mimi raises money for World Vision

Well, we did it!
We got Mimi's section of my etsy shop up and running and she's already made a sale as she tries to raise money for World Vision.
You have to click here and read the adorable description that she made for the pendants and don't mind me as I shamelessly plug her attempts to raise $$$ for other kids around the world. I love it when my kids get ideas like this and I'm so proud of her.
We will be posting about 12 more necklaces today and I know you'll be able to find something for someone in your life! (and YES, I will make special a special post about the sewing themed ones, because you can't miss those... Those were made by momma's special request)

Modern Baby quilt top

I wanted to see if I could make a baby quilt from unusual colors and patterns.
This has been 1/2 made for about 3 months. Last night it HAD to be worked on (not sure why).
Top is completed now.
Not sure who the recipient is. I've been asked a number of times if I would consider selling my quilts. This one, maybe... We shall see.

Mimi wants to raise money for hungry kids

Stay tuned as Mimi is going to start selling necklaces that she makes this week. This week, the World Vision catalog arrived with lots of cool options to buy animals for hungry families around the world. Mimi immediately decided she wanted to earn $100 to buy some ducks and chicks for needy families. We recently bought supplies to make glass pendants and Mimi used clippings from her own magazine to make this necklace from one of the Rainbow Magic fairy images. She will be making 10-12 more charms this week and we will post them in my etsy store. They will be $10 each and all money will go to this cause. (hooray!)
... Be thinking about the little and big girls in your life who might want such a cool treasure.

more doorstops

I don't know what it is, but I have been getting so many orders on etsy for my beanbag doorstops lately. It's really funny and I am sure that people are looking at me strange when I go to Smart & Final and buy 60 lbs of beans at once. And the funny thing is that they are going strange places, like overseas, or to APO addresses or hotels. What are people doing when they buy 20 doorstops???? Who knows? Whatever it is, it's funding my latest quilty adventures and that's something fun. Thanks everyone!

Here are some of the more popular patterns of late.

Habitat Quilt - completed

The LAMQG meeting is tonight and I had to finish the Habitat Challenge quilt by the meeting, so when I attempted binding it last night on the couch and fell asleep, well, the quilt had to take a road trip with me this morning, to get worked on during errands. As I waited for Baby to visit with his mom at DCFS, I sat in the car and finished the last of the binding... Phew it's done!
Have to say: I LOVED HAND QUILTING THIS. What a great experience that was. Of course it added about 30 hours to the project, but the end result feels so much better than anything I could have done with my machine.
I also learned that a lot of the adventures of hand sewing rely on the needles you choose. Not that I've found the perfect ones yet, but I am starting to form opinions. (me, opinions?) ha.

Sometimes it's just good to be silly

We are having too much fun with our new incredibooth app.

Hand quilting WIP "habitat quilt"

I almost gave up on this quilt. Given all the stress I have been under, I couldn't see a way to save this Habitat Challenge quilt that I am working on for the LAMQG challenge. But some Pearl cotton, encouragement from Nicole and lots of quiet moments on tired evenings have helped me to fall in love with this.
The Little Princess left last Friday. I've shed many tears and also realized 4 days into a week without her just how much I'd neglected while we had her. Basically, everything was put on the back burner and this week so far has consisted of cleaning, sending apology emails to Libby Dibby customers who've waited too long for answers to questions or fulfilling orders. (sigh) - Thank you beanbag doorstop customers, I shipped out 20 today!

After that shipment today, I begin to see the light. A few hours to myself in the morning, our construction worker isn't here this am to work on the house - might be my first hour alone in the house in 5-6 months and darned if I'm not gonna sit down at least for 10 minutes to listen to some Imogen Heap Pandora and do a little hand sewing - just to feed my own starving soul.
It's the same feeling as a glass of wine and a sunset. And I'm gonna soak it in.

More little house collages

1 of 2 little house collages that I whipped up for some birthday gifts for special friends this week. After the last one became a hot ticket item at an auction recently, I figured that maybe these were cool enough to gift after all. (it kind of built up my confidence a little to see it get a great price at the auction...)
This one is about 8"x8". The other one was tiny (so cute) and about 4" square.
They make me happy. I kind of think I need one for myself.

Paint by Numbers Party (I have the coolest friends!)

I forgot to tell you about the paint by numbers party we went to. It was hosted by a friend of mine from Art Center and her funny group that calls themselves "The Society of Interesting People for the Advancement of Unique Social Recreation" and they sent out an email invitation that I simply couldn't turn down....

Everyone was told to bring 2oz of paint in any color and we were assigned a number when we arrived. The hosts had combined 3 different (hideous) paint by number designs and blown them up onto this massive canvas.

The  perspective was hysterical (note the ridiculously mammoth trees coming up behind the mountains) and the colors were whack. (pink glitter eagle)...

But it was one of the most fun parties we have ever been to and at the beginning of the night, we only knew one person there. (by the end, we were chummy with everyone)

I'm going to find a way to do this myself somehow.

11 years together

Today J and I celebrate our 11th anniversary. Well, actually, tomorrow we celebrate it, but today marks it.
"We are have been together in sunshine and in shade" and I wouldn't trade a minute of it to be with anyone else.
We have not ever chosen the easy route and our life is filled with adventure, suspense, challenge and lots of clinging to one another. But we are firm believers in the "work hard, play hard" lifestyle. We give everything and love well. There is no way I would ever have been able to deal a minute of the past 6 years as a mom and foster mom without this man at my side. This man, who is my steady, even rock. I tell him often that we are like a tetherball pole - he's the anchor pole and I spin, securely fastened to him.

J, I love you always. You are my favorite. You always have been and always will. You are my hero. Thank you for teaching me how to love well. Your generous and patient love is the foundation for our family and I am the luckiest woman alive.
(and don't forget, you're not allowed to die first... We agreed on it)

Happy Anniversary.

(special thanks to KM photography for these amazing pics!)