The Longest Post Ever??

Hello!! I've got to start posting more frequently, so that I don't end up like this again! I save up tons of things to post about, then never get to it because I need such a big chunk of time to do it! Well, hopefully this is the day, because I've got three kids down for naps right now, and it doesn't get better than that for uninterrupted time!

This post may be a little "all over the place" because I'm trying to jam as much in as possible, but bear with me! There's eye candy all the way through!

First, I wanted to let you all know I've added some things to my Etsy shop. I'm having so much fun with my embroidery machine and the vintage embroidery patterns I've found!

I'm just in love with these wall hangings- they are so cute in a nursery or child's room, or would even fit into a vintage-style studio!

And I've also made a couple of baby buntings, with vintage fabrics alternated between embroidered vintage baby animals.

As you can see, I've hung them in Avery's room until they sell, but when that happens, I might just have to make more to replace them!

Take a look at my shop for more information!

These two pieces are a new style/series that I'm working on. Both of them were done while I listened to praise music and reflected on my relationship with God. For a while, I've been looking for a way to glorify Him through the talents He gave me, and I realized that by just simply being "with" Him while I create is a start.

A couple friends of mine are taking mission trips to Uganda in a few months, and I plan to create pieces like this to auction off, then donate the proceedings to the trips. I'll let you know here when the auctions occur.

As always, I've also done some spreads in the kids' journals.

Noah turned three in February, and this is his birthday page. I tried doing a little photoshoot of him that day, but he was a typical three-year-old, and almost every photo was blurry!

And, speaking of birthdays, how can the last baby I'm ever going to have be six months old already???

I always do a page for my kids on their six-month birthday (here's Riley's and Noah's), so here is Miss Avery's.

I have to say that I think this is one of my alltime favorite page spreads. Everything just worked on it, you know? It reminds me of some of my older work, which I feel like I've been getting away from lately...

And in case you couldn't see how cute she is in the photos above, here are a couple more for ya!

Avery also got a page spread about her current bib obsession!

This child drools more than any baby I've ever know, seriously! Perhaps it has to do with the fact that she's cut six teeth (yes, six!) in the past month, but regardless of the reason, bibs are a really big focus in this house.

The majority of time, she's wearing two bibs, and even then, I'm changing them out at least once an hour!

Other than pages in her journal, I've made a few more things for Avery lately. Again with my embroidery machine- here's a little crinkle-y taggie blanket.

She seems to like it!

And, along the same lines, a little dollie teether:

I guess I didn't take an individual photo of it, but it's kind of a "flat" doll, and the arms & legs are made from satin fabric tied in knots on the ends.

Of course, here you see both of the toys I made, and what is she choosing to play with? Monster trucks!!

I also made matching taggie blankets for two little twin boys a friend of mine just had. I may put some of these up in my shop as well.

And, for obvious reasons, I've also made a bunch of chenille bibs, inspired by Rachel! Until I read her post, I guess I just hadn't thought of the fact that I could make my own bibs-duh! With as quickly as she goes through them though, I reserve these for times when we're out in public, and she needs to look cute- ha ha!

Here's another project with my embroidery machine. A birthday crown that Noah wore on his birthday:

I've also done a few projects with the kids lately. It's so fun that they're getting old enough to do "real" art projects!

First, we made monster dolls. I let them choose all the fabrics and the shapes/expressions of the faces. I sewed everything together, and they stuffed them. They loved it!

I kind of love that Noah chose several pink fabrics for his!

Riley loved stuffing the monster so much that he wanted to make a pillow a few days later. I had read about using the rubbery shelf liner as an embroidery base (I can't remember where-sorry!), and it really did work well! I drew a simple dinosaur for him, and with some guidance, he was able to do it!

I'm so proud of him! I was amazed at how long he worked on it. He did the whole thing in two sittings, and this is a child who usually doesn't stick with anything for longer than five minutes!

The last "craft" I've done recently was a total revamp of our "reward chart". We've been in sore need of a new system around here, especially in the television arena. I felt like the kids were ready to start "earning" things instead of just "getting" them. And so, Dino Bucks were born!

The chart shows which activities earn dino bucks, and what can be purchased with the bucks. I'm still fiddling with the amounts on some of them to see what works.

I created the dollars (found here) by printing them onto iron-on canvas, which I then ironed onto dinosaur fabric. This was THE ONLY dinosaur fabric Joann's had- I would've liked something a bit cuter, but oh well.... Then I made simple little wallets for each boy.

So far it seems to be working, so we'll see!

I haven't had tremendous luck thrifting lately, but I did find these cute puppies at a thrift shop, and the dolls and doily from an antique mall.

And finally, I just wanted to give a little shout-out to Shona Cole. Her book, The Artistic Mother, has been released, and I'm very pleased to be a part of it!

It's a wonderful guide to being both a mother and creative at the same time. I love the little artist spotlights throughout, describing how other mothers have found creative time amidst their hectic lives.

If you're interested, Trudy Callan has created an Artistic Mother group on her blog, where she will be following along with Shona's book. What a wonderful idea!

Whew! Well, I think that's all! And remarkably, all the kids are still asleep!! Sorry if the post was a little scatter-brained, but I hope you found some inspiration here and there! Hope everyone's having a great almost-Spring!

Vintage Goodness

Hello! It's been a while, I know. I've become bad about updating my blog in a timely manner... thanks for being patient with my slowness, and I hope all these fun photos make up for it!

First off, I have an announcement to make. I've decided to open a new etsy shop called "Vintage Goodness"! My poor studio and Avery's poor nursery (the two primary places I display vintage treasures) are both bursting at the seams right now. I've got to clear some things out, so that I have room to buy more-ha ha! So I've put them on Etsy to offer to you! There're a lot more, but here's a small sample of some of the items I have in the shop:

This little cutie below hasn't made it into the shop yet; I'm still trying to decide whether or not to keep her!

So, take a look and see if there's anything you just have to have! I'll continually add new things, as I reorganize, or if I find something at a thrift store that I don't keep for myself!

My next big announcement (well, not really an announcement, but something I'm excited about!) is the wonderful gift my even-more-wonderful husband got me for Christmas! A new sewing/embroidery machine! I had been using a really old Brother machine that caused me a lot of heartache, and he surprised me with this beauty!!

So I have been having a lot of fun learning, to say the least. And I've been scouring the internet looking for vintage-inspired machine embroidery patterns. If anyone out there is "in the know" about this type of thing, please give me some suggestions! But I have found a few, and here are two of my first projects:

This little dress was made using Rachel's tutorial. I see a lot more of these jumpers in Avery's future-easy to make, and a perfect way for me to try out some cute embroideries!

My next project was a pajama bag for Avery's crib. I made one of these for Noah's bed a couple years ago, and it's so useful, I needed one for Avery as well.

I put the embroidery on a little pocket on the front. I'm sure all kinds of things will make their way into the pocket once she gets older!

As you can see, I also got a ruffler foot for the sewing machine- so fun!!!

I also made this doll for Avery using Hillary's pattern. Adorable pattern! I didn't do any embroidery on this one because I was still getting to know the machine...

And a couple "reversible" monsters for the boys using this pattern.

I've also done several spreads in the kids' journals. The first is about Avery rolling over for the first time.

And then one about some of her "achievements" during her fourth month.

And the last is about her first two teeth. They both popped through on Christmas Eve!

In Noah's book, I did a spread about giving up his pacifier. We are now paci-free in this house! Avery has taken to her thumb, so no more pacis to keep track of-hurray!

And another about his "grumpy face"-everyone he knows recognizes this face-we see it often!

In Riley's book, I did a spread about his beginning understandings of God. Such proud moments as a mother seeing him begin to talk about God and Jesus...

And would anyone like some vintage eye candy today? My mom got me this wonderful vintage baby blanket for Christmas (after I sent her a link-hint, hint!). I framed it in a frame I found at a thrift store, and hung it over Avery's changing table. I LOOOOVE it-probably one of my absolute favorite possessions! Every time I change her, I get to look at it!

Speaking of favorite possessions, here is another one of my newest ones! A little toy Jaymar piano that I found at the thrift store for $7!

I haven't found a home for it yet, but it does look pretty cute on Avery's dresser for these photos!

The little blue cat is another recent find....

As are these two vintage planters and jewelry box. The jewelry box has wonderful turquoise velvet inside the drawers.

I've found a few old paint-by-number paintings recently. A couple are in Avery's room, and the others I hung in our family room-they are the 3 kitty cats and the bird painting. Personally, I sort of love them and love the colors they add to the wall arrangement. My husband isn't too sure. What do you think? Weird or cool?

Finally, I just thought I'd throw in some photos that my friend, Joy, took of our little family.

It's still sinking in that we are now a family of five!

Hope you're all having a great start to 2010!