A Nice Trip

Just got back from Indiana with the kids. We surprised my mom- so much fun! My dad and Madi knew we were coming, so they helped me surprise her. My dad picked us up and we got home before Mom and Madi were home from church. When they walked in, my mom kind of looked at us funny for a second and then her eyes got wide- she was definitely surprised! The kids enjoyed Indiana so much, even though it was cold. I even got to go out with Madi one night, I really enjoy hanging out with my sister. When we left Odin told me he was sad and wanted to go back to Grandma's. He said Daddy should come to Indiana instead of us coming home. :)

Before I left, I had made some cute ruffle shorts for Ally out of knit material and listed them in the shop. I got tons of orders before and during my trip, so my shop is on hiatus for a few more days until I get caught up with those. It's exciting though, to make clothes that people like- I never thought I'd be this busy! When the baby comes in June I will have to take a break for a few months at least, as I know it would be too difficult to do much sewing. I have a lot of projects I want to work on in the coming weeks- hair things, ties for the boys, etc. Oh and my mom is working on a big girl quilt for Ally and a quilt for the baby was well. Her quilts are amazing! I can't believe Ally will be in a big girl bed so soon, and we are starting to potty train her. So far she has gone twice on the potty, once was today. I hope this continues!

Finally, new spring items!

I feel like I am always saying I will do something and then I don't. A tutorial, a giveaway...I really want to and then time gets away! I do want to do a giveaway soon, especially since I have so many items in inventory right now and also it would be fun. For now, I have some new items for the shop for spring, and am working on more throughout January and February. I want lots of new items this year- suggestions are welcome! Currently I am trying to decide which line of fabric to use next. Something new, since old lines are always so hard to get my hands on. Anyway, enjoy the new pics. I also made a doll for Ally- now, I am not the crunchy, all-natural type. I'm just not, it's not me. However, these waldorf style dolls are so cute and sooo expensive, I told myself, I can make that. So I did. And it turned out very cute but definitely not professional. Ally loves her, as she does all her "babies", and I made coordinating outfits for her and her doll :).

I am not much of a blogger...

Obviously. Over two months without a post...sorry! We had a great Christmas with my family, of course and Christmas Eve with Adam's family was crazy/fun as usual. I always enjoy playing games, watching movies, etc. with my siblings. Adam, Madi and I even got to go to Jester'z Saturday night...love Jester'z!! One of the highlights of their visit was that Chet, Dana and Presley were all here and we got family pics taken by my friend Leah of Michele Blake Photography. They turned out great and I am thrilled. Also, we got the house organized/cleaned out and we have 3 big bags ready for Good Will. Both Odin's and Ally's rooms are nice and clean, and we have Odin's closet all organized with a shelf/bin system for their clothes (hard to describe, lol). So everything is set for their transition to sharing a room when the baby comes in June. All we need to do now is find out if it is a boy or girl and I can take out the appropriate clothes...only a few weeks left until the ultrasound!

My shop is back open and ready for customers, and I have new patterns and fabrics to work with. I am also working on making a waldorf-style doll for Ally (google Bamboletta or Petite Poire for an idea of what I want it to look like!). Oh and Madi reorganized my craft cabinet so that will make it tons easier to make things. Also, my mom made a new quilt for Odin's bed and it's amazing- sorry, no pictures yet!

October

So this might be my ONE October post, lol. Things just get so busy in the fall, and my kids aren't even in school or any activities! We do have our playgroup, but that's year round. We love our playgroup...it has been great spending time and forming friendships with other Christian women while our friends play together. For some reason, I have not found that at church...I love the other young moms at our church, but I haven't really formed close friendships with any of them, and it's been 7 years...seriously, it is harder to make friends as an adult than it was even in high school!

My etsy shop has been very busy...I fully intended to do 3-4 craft shows this fall, but there is just no way. I am so busy with online orders, which is great, that I don't have time to make many extra things for the craft show. I am doing one in a couple weeks and am very excited about it, and have enough inventory from last time in addition to new things. Hope it goes well! The last show I did was a dud. But this one is in a much nicer area, and seems more my style. We'll see!

Ally has been talking a lot. Her latest word is "goggy" which somehow means "cracker." Hmmm. I've also been Christmas shopping...I love doing it little by little, starting in October, so no need to scramble before Christmas! I am actually done shopping for the kids...a train table for Odin as well as some trains (craigslist!) and some disney princess stuff for ally (mostly belle...because she is the best!). I love my kids more and more each day...they're so fun and get along like best friends!

As for my shop, I won't be adding anything new until after the craft show...but I just perfected a new style (after ripping out seams and reworking it 4 or 5 times! Ugh!) but it looks great now and I can't wait to show you! The above picture is this year's Christmas dress, but Ally's will be done in red. The one she is modeling is going to the craft show!

Fall is coming...

Not that you'd know it here in AZ. It's still around 100 degress F every day, but by this time next month you'll all be wishing you were here. All the way until beginning of May! Fall has never been my favorite season, but I do love it here because the weather gets so nice (again, in October...September is still a summer month). Leaves falling, crisp air, pumpkins, yada yada...not really interested. And fall colors, to me, are somewhat drab! Spring/summer are my favorite season, esp. spring here. This is why my new fall items in my shop aren't that fallish. They can be worn anytime, and that's how I like it. Kimberly Van Sistine photographed a few new items for me, and here's a sneak peak. It's a new pattern that I love, AND it goes up to a size 12! Yay! The fabrics are Meadowsweet 2 by Sandi Henderson...love them. Still bright but kind of seem like fall, too.

Recently we went to the children's museum in Phoenix. Love this place! They've added so many new things since we were there last! Odin's favorite was the noodle forest and the "fiders" (spiders). Went to my brother and sister's baptisms this past weekend...just me and Ally. She did well on the plane and it was an amazing, blessed weekend. I always forget how amazing testimonies are...until I go to them. It was so special to hear Madi and Andre's testimonies and to see them baptized, to know they will be in Heaven with me when they die. Ally had fun with the babysitter and another little girl from my parents' church in West Lafayette. I so wish we could go to Indiana, and the idea of living there is very appealing. I think we will probably stay in Phoenix, but you never know. We are praying for God's direction in where we should be and what we should be doing!

Of course, it's been awhile...again.

Maybe I am not cut out for this blogging thing. I love to write, but not really about myself. Fiction is my thing, so when people ask if I've ever considered writing magazine articles, I usually say no. I could, though, I'd just RATHER write a story :) So anyway, back from vacation and busy as ever. It was fun but now back to reality and figuring out what Adam is going to do for work...a lot of decisions to make!

Enjoy the pictures from our vacation! Right now I am working on new fall stuff (LOVE the fabrics I just bought!) and a few Christmas things, too. Look for those by September 1, a little later on the Christmas stuff but still in plenty of time for the holidays!

Vacation time :)

Wow, just noticed I haven't blogged in awhile! Things have been crazy here. Trying to figure out some stuff, hoping Adam will find a permanent work solution soon...so I haven't thought about blogging. I have also been busy with my etsy shop, and finally finished all orders yesterday and shipped the last two today! So I am going on vacation without any outstanding orders...my shop is on vacation mode but I will change it back before we return.

I did a craft show a couple weeks ago and it was fun and I met some great people...but it didn't generate many sales AT ALL. I was disappointed, but will consider doing another one in the fall. I've added a photo of my booth set up. You can also see a new dress :) Well, I'm off to have a fun vacation! Off to Michigna we go...