The L-T Experience

Iron Craft #10 - In Stitches

2012-05-22T06:07:00.001-07:00

The challenge this week:

"This week we’d like you to pick up needle and thread and create some stitches of your own." (courtesy of Just Crafty Enough)

Oooh some hand sewing. I can do this!

First I had to decide what I was going to hand sew on.

Ta da! I admit, I spent most of the challenge time cutting and piecing this pretty petunia quilt block and not much time actually hand stitching.

Oooops! But I did sew on a button by hand. I don't think that counts.

And I free handed some pretty stems onto my leaf sections.

That totally counts!

I even got the green to match to that it's a subtle but pretty touch.

Now my question to all of you readers? What on earth should I make with this block?

Should I make a few more and make a quilt?
Should I stitch it into a pillow?
Should I make a huge bag out of it?

Any suggestions?

The quilt block is large (18 by 18 inches)

________

Anyway, go on over to the Iron Craft Flickr group to check out all the wonderful stitching from the other participants. I'm sure they spent more time on the actual stitching and less time goofing around with what they were gonna stitch on hehehe

May Giveaway Day with Sew Mama Sew!

2012-05-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. The time of year I like to refer to as "Try your luck at a bunch of cool loot" day.

Actually, it's not even really a day anymore! You will have almost an entire week to enter all the linked up giveaways.

Yay!

So here we go.

What am I giving away?

A brand spankin' new copy of One-Yard Wonders.

I got it for Christmas this past year from a dear friend who loves to encourage my sewing addictions. But alas, I already have a copy.

So one lucky winner will benefit by receiving my extra copy.

Of course, you can't get started in on a book like One-Yard Wonders without having some "yards" to work with.

The lucky winner will also receive 3 or 4 or 5 or 10 one metre cuts of fabric from my stash. Pictured above are the ones that I found at the top of the pile, but there will probably be more! Ooooh.... Ahhhhhhhhh :D

And yes, I did type 1 metre cuts (which are slightly larger than 1 yard cuts). I'm Canadian and that's how I roll... ummmm... measure.... hehehe

Now what do you hafta do for a chance at winning all this loot?

Here's the ole' list.

I'm lazy this year so I'm letting Google Docs compile all my entries for me. Awesome. You should try it! :D

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p> Here are all the details about this giveaway that Sew Mama Sew wants you to know about:
- I will ship internationally
- This giveaway is open until open until May 25 at 5 p.m. PST.
- I will email the winner by May 27th, 2012
- You will have 24 hours to respond before I draw a new winner
- I will ship the book and fabric out by June 1st.

Please visit the Sew Mama Sew link up site to see all of the other participants and enter a few thousand more giveaways (I mean it... there were hundreds last time and there are bound to be near 1000 this time).

Good luck to everyone!

Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturday #30

2012-05-19T06:45:00.001-07:00

It was Mother's Day last weekend. And all the commercials appeared on the radio and TV exulting the "go to" Mother's Day gift that every mama was sure to love.

A day at the spa.

"Get your nails done while peaceful lavender scents are pumped into the room."

"Let our trained masseuse rub away all your worries."

"Our stylist would be happy to create the perfect new hair style for you."

"Forget all your mommy worries and pamper yourself for the day away from your children."

Yeah.....

I confess:

I HATE the spa. NO TOUCHY!

Ugh. The thought of anyone touching me freaks me out.

I guess this all started because I had the worst circulation and all that rubbing from a massage would bring all of my precious circulation away from the core of my body and make me physically sick.

But it's not just that - I don't like people hugging me. I hated when adults tried to pat me on the head when I was little. Don't try to lift me in any way. Give me warning before you try to hold me hand.

"Wow, you have really long, thick hair - mind if I style it for you?"

No TOUCHY!

"Wanna hug it out?"

No Touchy!

"I'm a touchy-feely person who hugs anyone I meet and since you're a perfect stranger whom I've just met, I'm gonna hug you."

No Touchy!

"Those nails could sure use a bit of colour. Want a manicure?"

No Touchy!

"You're in your best friend's wedding, so I'm gonna make you so pretty with all this goopy make-up."

No Touchy! (although I'm probably going to have to submit to this one in August - boourns)

"I declare a thumb war!"

No Touchy!

"Eskimo kisses?"

No Touchy!

"Tag! You're it"

No I'm not! No Touchy!

Source

(The No Touchy rule applies to Everyone with the following exceptions:
Sexy times with my husband continues until further notice hehehe. And I relish hugs and kisses from my children.)

_______________

I'm sharing this confession over at All Work and No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something. Share yours?

Wordless Wardrobe Wednesday: Size 12 Baby!

2012-05-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturday #29

2012-05-12T17:30:00.002-07:00

I can survive for weeks just on the words: "I love you mommy."

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies out there!

_________

Sharing this short and sweet confession over at All Work and No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something

Never Have I Been so Glad That The Man Couldn't Find The Hole

2012-05-10T08:44:00.001-07:00

So.....

I had my first echocardiogram since my new valve was put in.

I was a raw ball of nerves going to that appointment. I didn't know what to expect. I have been feeling really good lately, but things don't tend to go perfectly when it comes to my heart.

But this particular appointment was awesome! :D

The technician took the first measurements of my heart post surgery. It has shrunk back to a normal sized heart!

My heart hasn't been normal sized since.... um... forever!

Then the tech pointed the echo gizmo onto my valve.

And I admit - I cried like a blubbering baby.

I have never had a working pulmonary valve. Ever in my life.

This was such an incredible experience. There was no backwash sounds, no backflow colours. Everything was so perfect. It was just opening and shutting and opening and shutting. How I love that picture!

Then the technician moved on to look the hole in my heart. It has been the size of a quarter since Logan was born. She looked and looked and jabbed my poor boob and ribs with that echo wand thingie. Ow!

Hmmm... something was up. She was very quiet. About 20 minutes of jabbing later, she decided to get my cardiologist who happened to be reading echos in the next room at that very moment. He looked and looked at all her measurements and then said he was satisfied.

My hole is no longer there!

My heart has shrunk so much and so much pressure has been relieved with this new valve that the hole is NO LONGER THERE!

I cried again. Right in the tech room.

My heart is now functioning as close to a normal heart as it is ever going to get.

This is the most momentous, awesome, incredible, astounding, insane news I've heard in a long time.

Tawny is normal.

Well... as normal as I'm ever going to get.

And what does my brother say in reaction to my news yesterday?

"It must be all the steroids in the cow-grown organic replacement parts! Haha! Good to hear, Sis! "

Oy!

Iron Craft #9 - Think Inside the Box

2012-05-08T04:05:00.000-07:00

For this latest Iron Craft challenge, we were tasked with:

Let’s do a box challenge.
Make something out of a box, pizza box, moving box, cigar box, match box… any box. And make it into anything. Or make a box of your own. (courtesy of Just Crafty Enough)

OK.

I thought a lot about all sorts of things I could make out of boxes, but the children wouldn't let me have any of their boxes and seemed personally offended that I would even consider that.

So I guess that left the make a box of my own part of the challenge.

But then that would mean the dreaded paper crafts. I suck at paper crafts.

Observe.

My first attempt. I used plain white paper because I knew I was gonna screw up. A LOT. And didn't want to use my good stuff yet.

What you can't see in the photo above is that this box is about the size of a tiny ring box. Not big enough to hold anything useful to me.

Next, I tried to make the box bigger and more rectangular. Terrible photo for a terrible job at folding. :(

So maybe bigger and square might be the answer. The box I folded above actually looks pretty good. But what on earth was I gonna put in it?

Back to trying out a rectangular format. Yeah - construction paper does not work for origami AT ALL.

Ta da! I figured it out. Not bad eh? I even started using my good paper. But could I make a decent lid?

Sorta?!

And look - my bracelets fit inside these lovely boxes. Well, I might have to pack them with a little stuffing, or cut the cards differently. But still. I think if I can get better at folding these little boxes, they might be a nice handmade touch to all my friendship bracelet packaging.

The second box turned out even better!

Isn't it adorable? I just used sheets of scrapbook paper that I picked up at the dollar store 4 for a buck. :D

And my bracelets fit better!

PS: I used this wonderful tutorial to learn how to make the folds for a box with a lid.

______

If you want to check out the other Iron Crafters - and you totally do because they are going to be way more fantastic than this sad attempt at paper crafts, check out the Flickr Group.

Macrame Monday - How To - Macrame Sandals

2012-05-07T04:17:00.000-07:00

Ooooh I'm so excited to show you this project.

I made my own Macrame sandals!

Eeeeee!!!!

Check them out.

Wha?!!! You can make macrame sandals?!!!

You totally can!

Here's how:

Time Needed:
About an hour

Skill Needed:
This project only uses one macrame knot (the square knot) - so knowledge of that is a must. And that's it! No sewing involved.

Materials Needed:
An old pair of flip flops (or those ones from the dollar store work awesomely too!)
t-shirt yarn (here's a tutorial on how to make t-shirt yarn if you don't have some already)

I used this ball of nylon-esque yarn that I got from the thrift store. It's stretchy and doesn't unravel just like t-shirt yarn.

Step One:
Take the original flip flops apart. Try to do this carefully so that you don't tear the flip flop too much when taking the plastic toe piece off.

Cut 5 long pieces of t-shirt yarn. I cut mine at about 4 metres each.

String 4 pieces of the yarn through the middle "toe" hole making sure that the middle of the yarn is in line with the hole. There should be 4 pieces of yarn sticking out the top of the hole and 4 pieces sticking out the bottom.

Step Two:
Take the 4 pieces of yarn sticking out the bottom of the flip flop and string two of them through each of the two holes near the back of the flip flip.

Then take the final piece of yarn and string it one end up from the bottom of one hole and the other end up from the bottom of the second hole. You should now have 4 pieces of yarn poking through the "toe" hole and three pieces each poking through the bottom holes. The bottom of the flip flop should look like the photo above.

Step Three:
Start knotting a chain of square knots using the four yarn pieces poking out of the top hole. Use two pieces as the middle filler of the knots and the other two as the actual knotting pieces.

Start knotting a chain of square knots using the three yarn pieces poking out of the bottom holes. These knots will only have one piece as filler.

Step Four:
You can always knot these shoes right onto your foot to make sure the measurements are correct. I haven't added any measurements because everyone's foot is different. Keep measuring while you're doing the knotting to get the correct fit for you.

Once you get the top square knot a desired length, split the yarn pieces in half. Begin square knotting a chain from both halves. This time you won't have any filler pieces.

Step Five:

Once the back chain and the front chains meet, gather all the yarn strands together and start another chain of knots, this time there will be three filler pieces. Do this on both sides until the chains reach the middle of you foot near your ankle.

Step Six:

Once both chains reach the middle of your foot, gather them all up into one batch. Begin a large square knot chain using all the yarn. Do only a few of these knots. Maybe 5 or 6 of them.

Step Seven:

Again divide the yarn strands into two. Make sure that two of the longest strands are on each side. Start making another chain of square knots making sure that the two longest strands are in the centre of the knot as filler. You will have 3 filler cords, but only two of them have to be the longest ones. Make a chain long enough to reach the back of your ankle (or until you run out of short strands). Knot the strands off tightly. Cut only the shortest strands down, leaving the two longest strands as your sandal ties. You can use a bit of glue on these cut off end knots if you like.

Step Eight:

Tie them on! You're done.

If course, every flip flop pair is a bit different, so this is just a rough guide as to how I made mine. Experiment with other macrame knots that I've been teaching you or add big macrame beads onto your patterns. I bet whatever you do, it'll be fabulous!

As always, if you try out this tutorial I would to see your results! Join and post your photos on the Tawny Bee Flickr Group or email me (link in my profile).

So awesome aren't they?

Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturday #28

2012-05-05T08:04:00.001-07:00

Let me preface this confession with a little cartoon that arrived in my inbox from my husband the other day:

I confess - I am totally guilty of trying to tire my kids out in the hopes that they will nap.

And I attempt this futile feat repeatedly.

With about a 0.0048% success rate.

I have also been guilty of falling asleep while the children played (and destroyed everything) around me.

And I may be guilty of dumping the children on Terry the nanosecond he walks in the door from work so that I can get a much needed break (nap).

Oy! I wish I could bottle a child's energy. That serum would kick the ass outta any Rockstar drink you could buy.

I've tried the opposite too. Bore the crap outta the children and make them sit with the dimmed lights for quiet time.

This doesn't work either.

I have to just admit to myself that the kids don't need naps anymore.

Well... that's not entirely true. They need naps... they are just too strong to fight into a nap anymore.

I should just count my blessings. Logan napped until Kindergarten and still naps occasionally. He needs it the most. And Lane napped until she was 2 and a half. That's more than most people get.

Do your kids nap? At what age did they stop?

__________

I'm linking this confession up to all the other awesome confessions at All Work and No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something. Join us?

Weight Loss Wednesday: 20 lbs!

2012-05-02T08:57:00.001-07:00

Yup, you read that right.

I have officially lost 20 lbs!

Details

Starting Weight: 174 lbs 09/12/11

Current Weight: 154 lbs 05/02/12

Target Weight: 150 lbs

Weight Change: 20 lbs

Remaining to Lose: 4 lbs

Avg. Lost Per Week: -0.6 lbs

OMG! Look at that! Just look at that!

I could cry.

I am crying.

The inches are coming off as well. And I have the giving up of the Diet Pepsi to thank for that. As soon as I gave up all the fizz I lost several inches.

Here is a picture of me now:

I know. I'm not really wearing the most stylish thing for this momentous occasion.

Oh well.

Here is a picture of me last August right before I started trying to lose weight.

Hmmm ... a bit smaller now?

And the best part?

According the charts for my age and height - I am no longer overweight! I'm on the top line - but still...

I'M NOT OVERWEIGHT ANYMORE!!!!!!

4 to 10 more lbs to go! :D

The Aviation Museum

2012-04-30T06:09:00.001-07:00

This weekend we decided to head to another wonderful Winnipeg museum. There are so many and we're trying to get to each of them eventually.

The Aviation Museum is out at the airport of course!

I think the kids enjoyed it. Although we call it the "switches and chairs" museum because the kids were only interested in flipping all the switches on the simulators and sitting in the chairs.

I enjoyed all the inventions that crazy people tried out and eventually turned into something fantastic. I love crazy invention stories!

Like one of the first prototypes for the helicopter. Look at that bicycle seat! Hilarious!

The kids loved the Children's Aviation display upstairs in the museum. Tons of interactive stuff to try out.

Laney the pilot preparing for take off.

Lane experimenting with air lift.

We couldn't pull her away from this fun game. You put plastic balls on the cones that are shooting air and watch them float in the air. Fun!

Logan the head pilot.

He is such a handsome flyer!

These two make a great flying team. They flew us to Timbuktu several times that afternoon.

And yes, Terry was there as well. We forgot to bring the regular camera. We had to take pictures with our phones. Terry's iPhone has a better camera than my Blackberry so he was the cameraman for the afternoon. Here's one sorta decent shot from my phone though.

Good times! Do you like taking your family to a museum for an afternoon activity? Which ones are your favourite?

Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturday - The BIG Show

2012-04-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

So let me tell you all a little about Kim.

She's the high priestess of the mommyhood confessional.

Everyone bow to her and her awesomeness.

Right now!

Kim writes a truly funny, touching, heartbreaking at times, beautiful blog called All Work and No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something.

Did I mention that she also includes Chuck Norris facts and Simpsons references in her writing? Ummm..... AWESOME!

And she started Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturdays.

I truly thank her for this because I have a lot of really heinous mommy stuff to confess. And I'd probably get struck by lightening if I ever entered a church confessional.

Queen Kim is busy this week and has asked one of her loyal minions to take over the Big Mommyhood Confession show.

I'M THAT MINION!!!! :D :D :D

I'm so excited.

So go on over to All Work and No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something and read my confession.

Then link up your own.

An Afternoon in the Life of a Stay At Home Mommy

2012-04-27T13:03:00.001-07:00

1:39 pm

Me: Well you kids obviously won't nap. Go play then while I get some work done.

I should have known that I was doomed in the quest for naps when the show I was watching to bore the kids ended up having a character named Logan on it and a horsey. Damn yous Touch!

1:50 pm I'm sewing a new set of cloth pads for my Etsy shop

Lane: Mom! I pooped.

Me: did you poop or pee?

Lane is in potty training mode, but she still doesn't know the difference between pee or poop.

Lane: I pooped. Change me!

I get up from my work, get a diaper and proceed to change Lane. She trickled a tiny amount of pee into her diaper. Pooped indeed!

Back to sewing.

2:00 pm

Logan: Mom my fingers have a whole bunch of dust on them. Can you get it off?

I realize that Logan has been into the Timbits and has coated his fingers in sugar and then went around touching every soft surface in the house. Half of his precious binkie is stuck to his sticky fingers.

I take him to the bathroom and help him wash his hands with soap.

Back to sewing.

2:07 pm

The cat meanders her way down the stairs.

Maya the Cat: Meow!

(translation: I want some lovins right now and I'm going to jump up on your lap in the middle of you sewing a seam and then freak out because there is a needle madly flipping up and down mere inches from my face.)

2:08 pm

I go to the bathroom to wash off the bleeding scratch on my arm from a spazzy cat.

2:14 pm

Lane: Mom! I pooped!

Me: Did you poop or just pee?

Lane: I pooped! Change me!

I get another diaper and proceed to change yet another trickle of pee in her diaper.

Me: Want to have potty time?

Lane: No, I'll have potty time tomorrow.

Fine. Back to sewing.

2:18 pm

Lane comes into the room pantsless and without a diaper on.

Lane: I want to have potty time mommy. Logan helped me take off my diaper.

Me: OK. Let's go.

Lane sits on the potty and I realize that I haven't had a pee since 8:00 this morning. So I sit down as well.

Me: Let's make some tinkles together.

Lane: OK! I can tinkle! (she then makes a series of pushing noises). I peed!

I check and there is nothing there.

Lane: I made tinkles now!

I check and there is still nothing there.

Lane: I made tinkles now?

I check and still nothing.

Lane: Well I had a good try and I want a sticker.

I get her all dressed and washed and get her a sticker.

Back to sewing.

2:38 pm

Me: Logan I need my cutting table to put snaps on these pads.

Logan: Not now mom. I'm cutting!

Logan has his scissors in hand and is busy cutting tiny pieces of construction paper and using all of my precious scotch tape to stick them to another piece of paper.

Me: Then can you please move over so that I can do some work?

Logan: I'm making art mom. I can't move now.

Who can argue with that? I go over to the computer to write this blog post.

2:47 pm

Lane: Mom! I pooped!

......

Why oh why don't they just nap on Friday afternoons?

At least they're cute!

______

PS: Those cloth pads I was sewing during this glimpse into my life are available here. ;)

Wordless Wardrobe Wednesday: The Earth Day Nature Dress

2012-04-25T08:42:00.001-07:00

Iron Craft 8 - Love Your Mother... Earth

2012-04-24T08:07:00.001-07:00

For this challenge we were tasked with:

We would like you to turn something you would normally give or throw away into something else. (courtesy of Just Craft Enough)

Now you all know that I sew.... A LOT

And this challenge fell right in the middle of my sewing machine breaking down.

ACK!

So what was I to do? I would have to craft something instead of sew something.

Fine.

But I still couldn't let my craft not involve my sewing somehow. The items I decided to use were those pesky empty thread spools. I have A LOT of them. I couldn't think of anything really special to make out of them. They are not wooden or vintage or anything cool.

Hmmmm...

What did I make out of these items?

Some empty thread spools and some left over embroidery thread pieces that are too short for friendship bracelets?

Here is Logan cutting the thread into shorter pieces.

Here I am gluing the thread spools together (photo taken by Logan).

Here is a picture of all the crafting (photo taken by Lane).

Ta da!

We made a nice basket for the birds to gather pretty coloured string for their Spring nests!

The thread spools worked great because they had lots of holes after gluing them together to poke the string through. Easier for the birds to get at.

We hung it from our apple tree in the backyard.

Then took pictures. Then we made Terry climb up on a ladder and place it a it further into the tree because I had it perching on a small branch no where the birds would even go.

If you're in our neighbourhood and happen to see some nests with colourful thread sticking out of them, you know why!

To follow all of the Iron Crafters, please visit the Flickr Group.

Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturday #26

2012-04-21T07:12:00.002-07:00

I lead a very sheltered life.

Well at least when it comes to smoking...

And I don't mean that kind of smoking (even though it was 4/20 yesterday and you probably thought I was going there).

After all, I do live in Cannabi.... I mean Canada.

But no, I meant regular cigarette smoking.

I think my parents might have smoked before I was born. And my dad started up again after they got divorced and the kids were all living with mom for awhile. As soon as I moved back he quit.

No one in my family smokes. No one in my immediate friend circle smokes. None of my co-workers smoke (hah! cuz I'm a stay at home mommy - I have no co-workers! hehehe)

I'm sure that my husband runs into smokers all day long. They probably sneak out of work to have a puff. I'm sure he notices them at the bus stop every single day.

Source

But for me - no one near me smokes. Not a single parent would dare have a cigarette in their fingers while dropping their kids off in the school yard.

Yesterday, I took the kids for a walk to Canadian Tire. Because of my sheltered life, I was actually surprised to see a smokey stain in the sidewalk about 20 feet from the store.

I know! Sheltered indeed!

Like somewhere in my head, I had forgotten that people actually have this unhealthy habit.

Then Logan asked, "What is that mom?" as he pointed to a cigarette butt.

And then I realized something else. My kids don't even know what a cigarette is.

:D

Proud mama moment!

I explained that some people have an unhealthy addiction to smoking.

Then he asked, "What is smoking?"

So I answered him literally - "Some people like to suck on sticks that are on fire on one end to make smoke which they breathe in."

Logan thought about that a moment and said, "Gross."

Gross indeed.

Have you had to have a smoking talk with your kids?
How do you explain it to them?

_____

I'm sharing my confession over at All Work and No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something. Join us?

Food Friday: Apple Bundt Cake

2012-04-20T05:56:00.003-07:00

I know this is more of a fall recipe, but I make it year round and it's always a hit with the family.

Yum! Can you see all those apples in there? So nummy nummy.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups apples - pealed, cored, diced (I usually like to use a granny smith apple because it keeps a little shape and crunch when baked)
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup chopped walnuts

Method:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C. Grease and flour and 10 inch Bundt or tube pan. In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples, the 1 tablespoon of white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon, set aside. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside as well.

- In a large bowl, combine 2 cups white sugar, oil, orange juice, vanilla and eggs. Beat at high speed until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until mixed. Then stir in apple mixture. Make sure the flour is well mixed so that it doesn't stick to the apples and make them all floury. Fold in chopped walnuts. You can also layer the batter with the with the apple mixture, but I find this only makes a few soggy layers. I like it all mixed together evenly.

- pour the batter into the prepared pan.

- Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool some more.

Here it is right out of the oven. So light and moist.

And when I'm actually talented enough to get it out of the pan in one piece, here it is cooling on a rack. Does anyone else have a tricky time getting a cake out of a tube pan in one piece? I've wanted to share this recipe with you for a long time, but I could never get a decent photo of the cake out of the pan. It usually ends up more like a pile of crumbly cake with half stuck to the pan.

Oh well, it still tastes the same, so my family doesn't mind ;)

Nummers!

Macrame Monday: I'm Still Here

2012-04-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh! I realize that macrame Monday hasn't made an appearance for a long while.

That doesn't mean that I haven't been working on macrame though.

I've been working hard on a project.

Only I've had a seriously good month at Tawny Bee and have had to work hard to catch up on all the sewing projects to keep my stock up. So much so that my sewing machine is now broken. And it's going to take a couple of weeks to get it repaired! ACK!!!

So I guess I'll be doing a lot more macrame in the meantime because... idle hands and all that... gotta keep busy.

What exactly have I been working on:

Wavy and Chevron Friendship Bracelets

These! They were part of a wholesale order that went out last week.

Wavy and Chevron Friendship Bracelets

These! Also sold all of them last month.

Chevron Friendship Bracelets

These! All sold in the past few months.

Wavy Friendship Bracelets

These! Again... all sold already. You get the idea.

I have another 30 to tie to finish off a wholesale order and then I gotta catch up on my stock.

That's a lot of macrame!

And if that wasn't enough - you can't start a macrame revolution without going a little overboard right? So I'm also working on this:

Sorry for the dark photo. I only get to work on this beauty when the children are napping. Knotting in the dark with the cat trying to chase down all the cords. Now that's the life! :D

Stay tuned for a lot more macrame projects coming up while I wait for my baby... er I mean... my sewing machine to be fixed.

Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturday #25

2012-04-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

I was born in a body that's a lemon.

My heart didn't work properly.

Then my hands and feet and some of my internal organs didn't grow to proper size because of my terrible circulation.

Thankfully my brain compensated with it's huge super charged smart cells :P

Anywho...

Knowing that my body is a lemon, I'm always waiting for the next thing to go wrong.

These terrible feelings of doom happen most often when I'm healthy.

Like now.

Every lump and bump I feel is gonna kill me.

I know it.

Every headache isn't due to dehydration, weather, or aspartame withdrawal. Nope, it's a brain tumor. I'm pretty sure.

My heart is working so well right now that something else has got to go wrong to balance out the universe.

The fates wouldn't let me be healthy for any good amount of time.

Last night I had a dream that I knew that I had a brain tumor really deep in there. The doctors ran a bunch of tests and said that I was indeed dying, but they couldn't figure out why. And the only test they could do to figure it out was an MRI. The exact test I can never have because I have a pacemaker and tons of metallic things (including a metal mesh wiry thing holding my new heart valve in place) in my body. GAH!

So the doctors basically told me to suck it up and accept that I was dying and that they were going to do nothing about it. *sigh*

Bummer dream!

But you see that this fear of being healthy is very deep in my subconscious.

And the worst part? If that dream wasn't bad enough?

I sometimes think that if I am healthy, it gives the fates some opening to make someone around me sick instead.

I always had that fear when I was a kid that if I was feeling too well, my brother or sister would get sick in my place. And now I worry that my kids will be a target.

I know it's completely irrational but I can't help it.

I guess it's part of the martyrdom that we all feel as mothers. And then it's just amped up in my case because I was born with serious health issues.

And then it's particularly bad this week because my brother messed up his back last year and is waiting on results of an MRI right now. His doctor went on holidays without discussing the results with him first. What is that?

So if the fates really do work like that - please just make me sick and leave my family alone.

Wow! I'm a bummer this morning.

I just gotta remember this:

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Got a confession that you're dying to share? Or want to check out everyone else's dirt? Go on over to All Work and No Play Make Mommy Go Something Something and dish!

Iron Craft #7: Freshen Up

2012-04-10T07:45:00.002-07:00

This week's Iron Craft Challenge was a great one for spring!

Spring is in the air here in the midwest (sure we could still get snow until May, but humor us). It seems like everywhere I go people are picking up things to freshen up their homes after a dull, grey winter. I thought that seemed like a great challenge for the Iron Crafters. This time we’d like you to create something to freshen up the place you live. Maybe some new throw pillows, a slip cover on a chair, make a throw rug from the bathroom, create some new art for your bedroom. (Courtesy of Just Crafty Enough)

So I went big!

I decided to freshen up Logan and Lane's old change table.

They have both outgrown the need for a change table. Yes, Lane is still in diapers, but she certainly doesn't fit on this change table anymore.

What to do with an unwanted piece of furniture?

We would give it away....

Or I could make it into something Lane needs:

A dresser!

I went hunting for white baskets that would fit on the shelves. Unfortunately, I could only find one of the big white baskets and had to make do with the smaller ones on the bottom :(

I made the basket liners out of the same fabric I made Lane's curtains out of.

I also covered the top "change pad" piece with the strawberry fabric. Eventually I'll move this piece down so that the basket drawers pull out straight instead of lifting them. Then I'll leave the top free for a lamp and other decorations.

I even found red and white damask ribbon at Michael's to add to the basket front. So cute!

Next I took some Raggedy Ann and Andy Wallies (wallpaper cutouts) that I received from a friend who couldn't use them anymore and added them to the table.

Aren't they precious?

We took all of Lane's tops and put them in the big basket.

Diapers fit perfectly in one of the side baskets. I'll put underwear in there once Lane gets going on the potty training. Socks went in the other smaller one.

The two bottom baskets contain pants and pajamas.

We're thinking about moving the dresser to the other side of the room where her plastic dresser now sits empty. We had the change table pushed up against her bed so that it would be an obstacle to her falling off the bed. But she's been in her big girl bed for awhile now, so it should be fine to move now.

Doesn't it look sweet in her room? And an upcycling project to boot!

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If you want to see the other participants in the Freshen Up Iron Craft Challenge, check out the Flickr Group.

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Also sharing this re-vamp with:
Too Cute Tuesday - Funky Polkadot Giraffe
Lil Luna Link Party - Lil Luna
Sugar and Spice - Seven Thirty Three
Show Off Your Stuff - Fireflies and Jellybeans
Blog Stalking Thursday - The Crafty Blog Stalker
Tickled Pink - 504 Main
Feature Yourself Friday - Fingerprints on the Fridge
Friday Favs - Nap Time Crafters
The More The Merrier Monday - DIY Home Sweet Home

Spring Purse

2012-04-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

Well folks, the poor mini duffel is losing it's oomph. And by that I mean, my poor little purse is fantabulous, but has survived an entire winter and is looking a little worse for wear.

Time for a spring purse!

I used this quick and simple DIY to make my own version of a spring purse.

I did as Katie did in her tutorial and bought a straw purse at the Thrift Store.

Logan said that it was a very boring purse. I agree!

Then I took some dollar store flowers and some pretty purple gingham and went to work gluing and gluing some more.

Here's the back. So pretty!

I pair this with my unnecessarily large hat that I got in the mail from Modcloth the other day.

I call it my unnecessarily large hat because of the show Happy Endings. Have you been watching? I love that show! Anyway, on last night's episode Alex was wearing a large wide brimmed hat that she received from a wedding party gift bag and Max referred to it as her unnecessarily large hat. hehehe.

Wardrobe Wednesday: A Handmade Skinny Dress

2012-04-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to fit into my skinny clothes again!

:D :D :D

For example:

I made this pretty plaid dress in April of 2009. I was 4 months pregnant with Lane and I was still thinner than I have been. Gah!

Kind of embarrassing.

Here I am wearing this dress in April 2009. Yup, that is a serious baby bump.

I had to put it away for a few years. But I finally had the guts to try it on again.

And ta da!

It fits!

I still have to fix the back. It broke when I was trying to wrench the zipper up on a day where I was clearly too fat to wear it. :(

Anyway, it's nice to have a new summer dress to wear.

Are you the type that donates clothes when they no longer fit? I usually am. I don't want to see my "thin" clothes cluttering up my storage and reminding me of how big I've gotten. But when I took so much time to handmake this particular dress, I felt compelled to keep it. I'm glad I did! What a great feeling it was to have the zipper zip up without struggle.

:)

Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturday #24

2012-03-31T06:41:00.000-07:00

I finished the World of Warcraft quilt - in record time! If you want to see the story, the photos and the details, please visit the Tawny Bee Website.

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Nope, that wasn't the confession. Although every muscle in my upper body is hurting from pulling that quilt through my machine and I let my kids run wild during Spring Break so that I could finish this quilt, so technically I could make some sort of confession out of it. But I won't.

Instead I'll tell you about last Saturday.

It was a Saturday like any other. We were sitting in the rec room trying to decide what we were going to do that day. The movies didn't seem to interest the kids. It wasn't nice enough to go to the park.

What to do?

Then Terry suggested something so epic... so fun... so awesome... that we couldn't say no.

Visions of 70s fashion and nostalgia went racing through my head.

Yes... we went roller skating! :D :D

And I wanted it to be just like I remembered it when I was 8 years old and went to a friend's birthday party at the roller rink. I would be cool, skating around the place with ease. My hair would be flowing in the breeze. Good music would make me want to do a twirl or two. I would be wearing some cute high waisted shorts that would sparkle in the mirrored disco ball...

Um....

Yeah....

Folks - It didn't quite go like that.

My confession? I'm a miserable roller skater.

But my kids had fun teasing mommy about how awful she was. I was the butt of many jokes that day.

This is how it really went...

I put on my skates and immediately fell backwards. I didn't fall on my ass though... no... that would be too dignified for me. Instead I did a teetering, contortionist move that make me look like a fat clown on wheels. But I remained standing.

Since the kids have never been roller skating either, it was my responsibility to hold one of the them up. Okaaayy... hold myself and one of them up. Gotcha. I can do this.

Fortunately, Terry realized that roller skating might not be his thing either. So he went and rented roller blades instead. Then we went out onto the floor. I was holding Lane. This girl was very excited to skate. And by very excited, I mean that she was kicking her legs out in every direction not really concerned that she couldn't balance or stand up. Nope, mommy would hold her up and she would just skate right?

Ahhhhhhh.... I screamed and got kicked in the shins by that little girl for about 15 minutes before I could take no more. And for your amusement, 15 minutes means that we made it about half way around the rink hehehe

So we decided on another approach to save my bleeding shins. Logan, who was holding on to his daddy for dear life with both hands, graciously let me take one of those hands. Lane lined up on the other side of daddy. Now we were in family line position.

And boy did we fly around that course! We were practically careening.

CAREENING!

My hair was starting to flow I tell ya.

And by careening, I mean we were skating at about 0.0000483 Km/hour.

I know!

CAREENING out of control!

After that exhilarating experience, daddy went out onto the rink in turns, holding the kids and skating really fast for their amusement.

I sat on a bench and watched Logan pretend to play video games. Looking the part with my roller skates still on, but not having to actually skate anymore. :)

Logan now likes to remind me that he is a better skater than mommy and that he was actually holding me up while we careened around the rink. *sigh*

And wouldn't you know it - they keep asking if we can go skating next weekend?

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I'm sharing this confession over at All Work and No Play Makes Mommy Go Something Something. Join us?

Peeptallica!

2012-03-27T06:25:00.002-07:00

Challenge #6 was the most fun I've ever had doing an Easter sort of craft.

"Create something using Peeps, that looks like a Peep or is somehow Peep themed." (courtesy of Just Crafty Enough)

After scouring the city for Peeps. Did you know that Corn Syrup is banned in Canada? Peeps are like contraband up here. Finally found a huge display of them at the Shoppers. Phew! I thought I would have to craft up the Peeps using felt or something.

Anyway, here's what I came up with:

Peeptallica!!!!!

Based on 1990s Metallica of course.

Featuring members:
James Peepfield
Peeps Ulrich
Jason Newpeeps
and
Kirk Hampeep

Hahaha!

Their best album being:
Master Of Peepets

Here they are rocking one of our favourite songs "For Whom the Peeps Toll" on stage.

OMG! We had so much fun making Peeptallica. I laughed at the silliness (and awesomeness) of it all so much.

Notice that even the Peeps box was recycled into this challenge. It made an awesome base guitar.

Even Logan got in on the fun. He made one guitarist Peep. Terry jokes that this is Dave Mustaine (sans red hair). Awww poor Dave got kicked out of Peeptallica and had to form his own band Peepadeth. Har har har.

Logan made a cool sparkly green guitar for his creation.

And Lane?

Lane decided to eat the Peeps I allotted for her to have for this challenge. And in natural Laney fashion she ate a bite out of each. We call this creation our mosh pit. It's what happens to brave Peeps who decide to go nuts at the Peeptallica concert. Oh! The carnage!

Wasn't this Peeps challenge awesome? I loved making this craft!

To see all of the other Peeps challenge entrants, check out the Flickr group.

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Sharing my Peeps crafting with some awesome peeps:

Lil Luna Link Party - Lil Luna
Too Cute Tuesday - Funky Polkadot Giraffe
What Are Little Boys Made Of? - Seven Thirty Three

What I Wore Wednesday and a Weigh In

2012-03-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

I gave up Diet Pepsi over a month ago and boy do I feel great! I'm finally losing inches and my weight plateau has been broken!

Details

Starting Weight: 174 lbs 09/12/11

Current Weight: 157 lbs 03/21/12

Target Weight: 150 lbs

Weight Change: 17 lbs

Remaining to Lose: 7 lbs

Avg. Lost Per Week: -0.6 lbs

That's right - I lost 2 more lbs!

I found this polka dotted dress at the Thrift Store the other day.

I just had to fix the bottom a little where it was coming unstitched.

And since I refuse to be the one to ruin my best friend's wedding photos in August, I will be wearing a lot of strapless outfits this summer. Don't want to be the girl with horrible tan lines in her strapless bridesmaid dress.

I wore it with pants today because it's very windy. It's super sunny and beautiful outside though, so I'm not complaining.

And here is our best " Sears Catalog" pose. Hehehe