Projects...

Today I thought I would blog about the projects I've been messing with the last couple days. These are all new craft ideas and new techniques, so there isn't anything real impressive, but I'm sharing anyway.

Sorry about the quality of the pictures. It has been overcast and foggy so the lighting has not been ideal for pictures.

First up, I was joking around with my friend, Emi, on Facebook the other day. Trying to guess what the acronym FBTF in her profile update was suppose to stand for.

Here's what she had written:

Emi is jonesing for some FBTF.

So I'm thinking, "that's got to be Fancy Button Time Fun..." I mean, really, what else makes sense?? Well, I was wrong, but I decided to have a little fancy button time fun myself... cause we all need a little bit of that. My friend, Wendy, makes the most amazing Button Bouquets. I tried my hand at them... Not anywhere as good as Wendy's, but I think it's cute.




BTW, FBTF actually stood for Fruit by the Foot. Hey, did you know you can design your own custom fruit by the foot pattern and special order it? I know what to get Emi for her birthday...

Okay, next project...

I wanted some pictures for my sewing area. I saw some at Joann's that I liked, but they were $14.00... seriously folks, I HATE to pay money for decorative items. I just hate it. So there was no way I was paying $14.00! Are they crazy?? I have to admit, the one at Joann's was better than this first one I made. But I had fun, and mine were FREE. (You need to go back and read that last sentence and sing the word "free".)





I wish I could take credit for the drawing on this next one, but honestly, I just traced the pattern. This is the coat I want to make that I was talking about a few posts back. I'm thinking I'm going to use the black and white woven fabric. I didn't even consider this fabric at first, but then my sis in law, who always stays on top of the latest trends, was wearing a gorgeous coat made from this same fabric and I had a "ding, ding, ding" moment.




Now I suppose I need to get around to actually making the jacket.... :)

For my dear husband....

This Saturday is Andy and my 12th wedding anniversary.


Wow. IT just struck me how long 12 years is. That's how long it takes to get from first grade to high school graduation. Wow time flies. It seems like it wasn't all that long ago that I graduated from high school. (probably due the amount of time I've been spending on facebook chatting with all my old friends, but I digress...) Twelve years! It didn't seem like that long.

I guess you could say twelve years ago when we got married it was like we were little kindergartners... and that would be a pretty accurate comparison to were our level of love, commitment, and dedication was. We were so naive. I remember a couple months into our marriage driving home from work and being so mad because I just knew Andy was probably at home making dinner, what nerve! I'm not even sure I can figure out why I was so irritated that he would be cooking for me, but now I look back and just have to laugh! Shoot! Maybe if I had been a bit more appreciative he'd still be doing the cooking? (Actually, he still does quite a bit of cooking, because he's just a good man.) and I suppose now, at 12 years, it's like we're finally ready to graduate from learning how to be married. That's scary, because I remember graduating from high school and thinking I had it all figured out... life that is. So I suppose I'm kidding myself if I think I have marriage all figured out now. I am just excited. Over the past twelve years I have come to really feel so grateful for my husband. He is amazing, and a perfect match for me. I could not have married a better man.

My friend, Kristi, tagged me a few days ago. I thought I would wait till now to post, in recognition of 12 years.



1. Where did you meet your husband?
At a wedding. I had just moved to Texas 4 days before hand. I had just moved in with my sister, who was a newlywed and expecting her first baby. My sister's, sister in law, was kind enough to help me meet people since I didn't know anyone except her, my new brother in law, and my sister. We were going to a party after the wedding. Andy says he knew, as soon as he met me.



2. How long did you date before you got married?
for the first six months we knew each other I was still bound and determined that I was not getting married, but waiting for a missionary. I could tell he was serious about me, so I dated as many other people as I could trying not to get too involved with him. t didn't work for very long. Andy was just so much fun to be with, and I felt good when I was with him. He also made me feel like the most beautiful, and important, person in his life.

3. How long have you been married?
11 years, 11 months, and 29 days...

4. What does he do that surprises you?
He still thinks I'm hot. Let me tell you... I've seen me naked, and so that's pretty surprising!

5. What is your favorite feature of his?
Andy has kind blue eyes, and great thick hair. He has an amazing voice and can really sing.


6. What is his best quality?
He is so willing to serve others. All the time. It doesn't matter who, what when or where, if someone asks him for help he's there. Once he even left home about 11 pm and drove about 9 hours round trip to help a family we go to church with who had broken down... and still got up and went to work the next day. I don't even know how many people he has helped to move, or shoveled the snow off their walks. I could go on and on...

7. Does he have a nickname for you?
Hey stupid head. Just kidding. We don' really have nicknames for each other.


8. What is his favorite food?
Hmmmmm.... there is a lot to choose from. He loves fish.. but it has to be big fish with easy to find bones. He likes trout too, but doesn't like searching his food for hidden daggers of pain before he eats. He also really likes fettuccine Alfredo, taco's, tater tot casserole, mashed potato/baked bean/hot dog casserole.. Does not like onions, spinach, or asparagus...



9. What is his favorite sport?
hands down.. basketball.

10. When and where did you first kiss?
He likes to tell people it was at the Mustangs of Los Colinas.. in fact he even took me back there and proposed to me there, sighting it as the place we first kissed, but in reality it was outside this guy named Patrick M.'s apartment. Patrick hated Andy after that and they never spoke again... Not due to Andy, Patrick liked me and thought Andy wrecked his chances or something... Patrick was a bit of a looser...

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? What we do most often is watch movies together, but we also love playing cards, and love getting together with other couples.



12. Do you have any children?
Four... Noah- 9 , Jennica-6, Aaron- 4, Vincent- stillborn, would be 5 months



13. Does he have any hidden talents?
He can instill great self worth in others. I would be nothing without him because I never would have thought I was good enough to ever try my hand at anything. Andy makes me who I am by making me feel like I can do anything, accomplish anything, be anything. More than that, he expects I'll be great,and he expects anything I do will end up magnificent. You have no idea how much power and influence that has unless someone has ever felt that way about you. He makes me feel like there is no one more talented than I am in the entire world. I know better... but I'm not sure he does.

14. How old is he?
Going on 35.

15. Who said I love you first?
I honestly don't remember. He will probably say he was.

16. What is his favorite music?
He use to like the cure, but now I'm not so sure. We both like Peter Brienholt's music, and Evanescence, country, I'm pretty sure he likes most of the music on my blog because he set up the house sound system so I could plug my computer into it and broadcast all over the house. (but that might just be because he loves me and knows I like the music so he tolerates it for me.. and sings along. Wouldn't surprise me if that was the case..)



17. What do you admire most about him?
His love of the savior, desire to do what is right, and how hard he works to provide for his family so I can stay home with our children.

18. What is his favorite color?
orange, green, yellow.... anything LOUD. The last couple t-shirts he bought were bright shades of orange. He could go direct traffic, and no one would know he wasn't suppose to be there.

19. Will he read this?
Yeah. Eventually. I don't think he has time to read my blog every day.



20. I tag Ali, Shawna, Emi and Amanda... (If you don't have a blog (Ali) then you can post in on your facebook. :)

Happy anniversary honey!

From Grrrrrr.... to great!

Bound and determined not to allow the past several days to go to waste I got up determined to fix my jacket.

So without further delay, here is the before...

There is suppose to be a button there in the front, but I used an old vintage button, and I guess it was a little too old cause when I went to button the jacket the button broke. I also felt like the button hole was set too far back... when the button was buttoned it didn't lay right, but sort of stuck out in the front.

You won't be able to tell in the picture, but I actually accidentally made two right sleeves... You see the fabric is a weave, so it looks exactly the same on both sides. I wasn't paying attention and ended up with a finished jacket with one arm going the wrong way.

Now, there is probably someone out there reading right now,with two right arms, who has the hardest time shopping, and can't sew (due to the arm thing obviously) is probably thinking, "yes! I SO am going to email her and ask for the jacket!" Well sorry dude, I took the sleeve off and made a left sleeve.

Next, the pattern had this cute flower application on the side. I really liked it on the pattern, really liked it when I was making it and attaching it to the jacket.

Really did not like it when I put the jacket on.. Sorry for the crappy picture. I didn't realize it didn't come out till after I had finished all the changes... so it's not like I was going to reattach it just to take a better pic. Anyway, I think the blurriness kind of sort of helps...

You'll also note at the base of the hem that the liner underneath is all messed up and pulling on the jacket. The liner was weird all the way around and on the sleeves too.


Drum roll.... Here is the new fixed jacket!

First, as I already mentioned I fixed the sleeve, which made a HUGE difference.


After that, I removed the remains of the button, and added a second button hole on the reverse lapel. I love the ribbon closure! I favorite part? the ribbon is not attached to I change it to coordinate with that I'm wearing. I can dress it up with a satin ribbon, or down with a polka-dot grosgrain ribbon. Love it.

I took all those silly flowers and stacked them on top of each other and stitched them together at the center. Then I pinned them on the lapel. Way better. Nice and casual, and I can remove it for versatility.

And finally I reattached the liner, correctly this time, so it all lays right.

Now, I love it. I have some place to go tonight and I'll give you just one guess what I'll be wearing...

Grrrrrrrrrrrr.......

Okay, so since I have a bit of free time right now before I start making albums again I went to the fabric store and bought some patterns. I REALLY have been wanting to make a nice winter coat, that I can wear when I'm dressed nice. Right now, I have a nice white ski jacket that I wear about 99% of the time, and a really awesome Walls western riding coat. My Walls coat is so warm and fantastic, but it's designed for like ranch work, so it's really casual. I don't have anything really suitable to wear when I'm dressed up.

So I buy a few patterns at the fabric store and come home and the fabric I wanted to use is a gorgeous wool herringbone I got from my grandma. It's vintage and just beautiful! I wasn't sure if I would have enough fabric... it was going to be close, but then as I start laying it out I notice the wool has some moth holes. Not many, but enough that I know I won't be able to squeeze the coat pattern out of it. So I'm a little annoyed already. I can't find anything else I'd like to use, except a really gorgeous rusty red velvet... and frankly I know myself well enough to know I wouldn't wear a coat that color enough to justify making one.

So instead I pull out some brown tweed suiting and decide to just make a fitted, lined, cropped suit jacket. So I get started. There are a lot of pieces, and it's time consuming. (I am using a pattern.) I know my way around a sewing machine. I enjoy sewing... when I have time, and fact is, I'm a pretty good seamstress (hence the decision to make a coat rather than just go buy one...) Last fall I picked up an account as seamstress for a large professional dance studio in Boise. I handled all the costume alterations for the elite dance team. So, anyway, I'm making this jacket, it's taken several days, it's basically finished now, and I hate it.

I am so annoyed. I get so frustrated with myself when I make something and it does not turn out. I need to do something with this jacket to make it workable because right now I am seriously annoyed. when I put it on, I look like a freakin'... errrr.. I don't know, but I just don't like it.

If I can't get it transformed into a likable state, then it will be available at the local DI real soon.

I'm sorry this post is really stupid. I just wanted to VENT.

I am so annoyed right now.

An I-pod for me! Really??

Idaho Legacy Lending is going to be giving me a free I-pod... Keep your grubby paws off.

I think I'll have a party for myself...

Tomorrow the kids go back to school.

I.am.so.excited!


Not that I don't love them and enjoy spending time with them, it's just that I also really enjoy "me" time... and I haven't gotten much of that lately.

Woot! Woot!! Yay for school!!

Thank the Lord, it's finally over.

2008 was not my favorite year.

In fact, it was down right awful. I learned a lot this year. Lessons I'm glad I have, but never want to learn again, and certainly do not think of fondly.

I've learned what how infant deaths are handled at the hospital, how much an infant grave and casket cost. Where to go to order a headstone (even thought I have yet to do it. I just can't. It will make everything to final.) I've learned that the cemetery in the spring, summer, and fall is apparently a really great place for people without respect for others to ride their bikes and exercise. I have some idea of how bad emotional pain can really be.

I've learned that it isn't always for the best for two people to stay married to each other, and that sometimes people you love and feel so close to are hiding things and carrying large burdens you might know nothing about. I've learned that physical abuse and infidelity are not the only acceptable reasons for divorce. And I've learned it IS sometimes in the best interest for the children.

I've learned that no matter how perfect some one's life might appear, we all have struggles and challenges. And that if we do not face them and attack them head on, that the challenges will win. We can not let our guard down, even for the briefest time.

I'm still trying to learn that it's okay if people who see me as strong assume that means I don't need help or support. It doesn't mean they don't love me or care about me, it just means they don't understand me.

I've learned that most everyone has secrets, and how good it feels to just let them go and get over them. And that not everyone looks the same on the inside as they do on the outside. Some people let their secrets become ugly, rotting, putrid bits of decay that eat at their insides until those around them can see and smell... and know. It changes them into people they don't necessarily want to be, but that can't let go of the secret, even though they know what it's doing to them.

I've learned life really does go on, and that pain and anger really do diminish with time. I've learned that the Lord really does guide and direct every aspect of our lives, if we will let him. And if you think your not letting Him, but doing it all on your own, you're very much mistaken. Every opportunity we have, every choice we are given, the Lord has given us, and it is our decision to use it to move forward or slip back.

And so, farewell 2008. I won't miss you, but I will remember your lessons for the rest of my life, perhaps even longer.