Dear 2011

Where did you go?

Button's Perplexed Look

Thanks for a great year! 

I look back at my first post in January HERE, and realize how worried I was that I couldn't even call the things I wanted to do goals...just hopes.

And so many of my hopes came true!!

Internet Hopes

New Logo!

 180 posts (chatty much, Heidi?),  over 100 new followers (thank you...I appreciate it!),  a special new home for Butterfly Kisses HERE, an FB page, Twitter, Pinterest AND now a brand new Etsy store (empty...but open)?  If you knew me last year, you would never believe it.  I can't either!!

2012 Hopes:  To keep it up, but not let it take over my life!

Grief Hopes

Jamie's Quilt: the inspiration for Butterfly Kisses

 I'd like to think that I have grown.  I'd like to think that I have helped many moms.  My blog is one of the top Google hits for Thanataphoric Dysplasia. 1,242 page-views since I shared my post this spring! That warms my heart that I can be there for someone when I was so lost.  It also warms my heart that I can share Butterfly Kisses with them!

2012:  To provide pre-made blankets for purchase for moms that can't send an item in for embroidery.

Sewing Hopes

A mess in my Studio!

I am in utter amazement that I have sewn as much as I have when I was still working early last year and then have had a baby the rest of the year.  I don't even dare think it will happen next year!

2012: Keep my focus on the home.  Window treatments, slipcovers, throw pillows, and a few things for the little guys here and there!

Embroidery Machine Hopes

Embroidering a Card Tutorial

We have established our love-hate relationship.  I love creating with it.  I love doing Butterfly Kisses on it.  Multi-positional hoops. Digitizing.  Designing.  I have moved from a novice to a intermediate embroiderer.  

2012:  Master it.  Share some tips with everyone this year.   Sell some new design creations at my Etsy store!

Quilting Hopes

Button's Quilt declared the Best of 2011 by the family

I am a bit speechless.  I counted.  10 quilts.  A new record for me.  Every pieced top is now complete.

I actually hoped for a long arm machine...and got one? 

A Moda Bake Shop Chef?

Not much more to say about it!

2012: Get to know my long arm machine.  Keep on quilting!

Crafting Hopes

I took pictures.  I shared tutorials.  Hope everyone like them!

2012:  Have a few more craft posts than last year!

Scrapbooking Hopes

I went on all three scrapbook retreats.  I finished my Family Album of 2010.  I am current with our family album up through August 2012.  Not too shabby.  A Christmas Album splashed in there.

2012:  Josh's school album.  He will be graduating in less than 4 years now.  I will not even think about any others until I finish it.

Family Hopes

 I sure hope I gave them everything.  I am a stay at home mom again.  I am so thankful for this wonderful gaggle of boys...including Mr. Boss.

2012:  Keep laughing.  Keep playing.  Keep loving.

 Baby Button Hopes

 

He made it.  A rocky visit to the NICU.  A blood transfusion.  The possibilities were frightening.  I am still too frightened to share the story...it terrifies me still. 

But he made it.  

That precious sweet baby boy made it.

And lights up my life.

 
Dear 2011,

I had such a nice time, but I feel like there is so much yet to do...I guess that is what 2012 will be for?

C'est la vie, right?

Happy Halloween

The boys took my Haunted Mansion from inside to the OUTSIDE.

As I was working on Halloween pillows this weekend (which still aren't finished as of now...figures, right?)

The outside was getting completely covered with spider webs.

 Not a single bush along the sidewalk was spared.

Even the lights got some special treatment!! 

We really couldn't hold back the giggles on this one.

No, this was NOT on purpose. 

Let us just say there was a little accident involving Mr. Boss*, light bulbs, a ladder, and the globe that made "friends" with the sidewalk.  

Apparently, glass and concrete don't mix?  Poor hubby....we often get a good laugh at his expense....

Even the front door received a bit of spider web love. 

  I had one contribution...the wreath!  I spray painted (surprised?) two brown twig wreaths black.  I went really wispy for a more ethereal "look" with a black tulle bow.

A little hot glue, peat moss stolen from a planter inside, and plastic spiders and we were happy.  There are a lot of amazing wreath ideas in blog land, but I was going for simple, easy, and CHEAP!

The little spiders were placed EVERYWHERE!  Amazing how one bag of spiders for $1.99 could keep the boys busy for a long while.  

They strategically placed two of these hairy spiders (about the size of a softball) on the columns as you approach the door.

But my favorite?

The pumpkins!

And this really made me smile......

I am going offline to finish those Halloween pillow covers I have in the works...not to mention some costume embellishments for Button....

The finish and tutorials for the pillows will just have to be shared next year!!

*NOTE:   We have decided to start calling "dear hubby"  Mr. Boss or Boss for the blog.  The boys and I spent some time coming up with one.  Some were just too inappropriate...what is the first "B" word that comes to YOUR mind when you think like a bunch of pre-teen and adolescent boys?

We finally agreed on Boss.  Some tongue in cheek with this one.  Because we all know who is the REAL boss around here, right?

Sunday Projects

 My Sundays usually consist of Mass, Sunday dinner, family time, and LAUNDRY.

THIS SUNDAY'S PROJECT:  FABRIC COVERED BALLS

  

I have tried many different days, many different ways, but the last 7 years of the 15 that I have been married, Sunday has become LAUNDRY day.  It is just easier for me if the boys are around to collect it from their baskets, closets, game room, sports bags, backpacks, and under beds????

And about every 3-4th Sunday, I actually get it all washed, folded and ironed by the evening.  Which is a great boon!   My very own personal pack mules can carry their fresh clothes and hang them/put away themselves!

The problem, you say?  

This means that I just can't get overly involved in any project that day, be it sewing, crafting, or blogging.  It is too difficult to start and stop.  I usually try to keep hand stitching of quilt bindings, or ongoing cross stitch/needlepoint projects ready and waiting.

But this weekend was a bit different...I saw this picture below while I was hunting for something COMPLETELY different.  

FROM : Knitty Gritty Thoughts

The thing is, I kept running into it every time I was searching for images of something else.  They even remind me of my most favorite vegetable...the artichoke!

I knew it was a must!

Supplies

 Have you wondered what to do with those Fat quarters that never get used out of the bundle?

This is a perfect project.

All you need is a Fat Quarter, Styrofoam ball (all I had was this almost 4 inch ball on hand) and flathead straight pins.

Go to Knitty Gritty Thoughts for the full tutorial!

 It was so simple to just set aside whenever my dryer buzzed.

2 x 2 inch squares

A few folds and pin.

All finished!!!

A Newer Acquisition

I finally have something interesting for this piece for my powder bath.

 Maybe some Christmas ornaments?

  A large one to hang somewhere?

A forlorn bowl begging for companions?

I don't exactly know quite yet...but I couldn't pass these up today.....

Could you??

September? Already?

September Calendar for my Family Photo Album

 
What happened to this year?

What happened to all of my hopes?

I am rapidly feeling like I am so behind in my own race that I will never catch up.

But when DON'T I feel like that?

I guess, I was so "busy" that I didn't do my quarterly review (in August) of my hopes!!!

So I guess today will be good as any other!

• Internet:  I feel like I have made considerable progress recently.  New blog header, cleaning up of my template.  I am sure it could use some more tweeking...but that's okay.  I like the tweaking.  I am excited because I am going to have a very special giveaway (sooner than later).  Keep your eyes open! BTW..even if you aren't reading..I am enjoying rambling somewhere and my blog suits me well!
• Grief:  Up and down.  Up and down.  I have noticed that my blog is becoming less about my grief and Jamie and more about my crafting/sewing.  I have another blog URL on the sideline in "wait" mode.  I am feeling more and more compelled to confine my grief there.  I would, of course, still reference it here every once in awhile, but feeling the need to split it up. But. Maybe not.  Confusing enough?
• Sewing:  Wow!  A lot done this summer, yet not enough.  I still haven't finished Button's nursery and I still have a whole  house to tackle!  Not many orders right now, so I really need to take advantage.
• Embroidery:  I have made even more strides.  I have invested in a few more hoops to manage orders better and I am learning all about splitting images on my software so I can use my large multipostional hoop.  So cool.
• Quilting:  I have made more quilts this year, than I ever have before.  And, two of them have stayed home with me.  I also have been excited that they have been featured on other sites.  So gratifying!  I am currently working on the Hawaiian quilt and the two puffy quilts.
• Crafting: A little here and there.  It always depends on the mood or the needs in our house!
• Scrapbooking:  Thank goodness for scrapbook retreats, otherwise, there is NOT much going on here.   I am on countdown....8 days away. And that giveaway?  ALL about scrapbooking.  Stay tuned!
• Family:  Never last.   NEVER.  My newest goal as a mother is to focus on the time I have left.  With the oldest starting High School recently, it becomes increasingly clear that our time with him is waning.  I am no longer allowing myself to "cop out" and decide not to attend school/sports events with pitiful excuses that I need to get home to do laundry or clean.  I am not limiting their after school activities as much as the past, claiming that it is too much (for me).   All I hope is that, someday, they realize that I spent 4-9 hours a day in my car to make it all happen. 

The only good thing today?  

My calendar is completely empty!!

At least for the next 10 minutes.

Picture borrowed from a Parenting article.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

First off, I would like to say...when I am unable to sew...I can really can be up to no good.  

This project is a direct result of of me using up idle time!

We have a problem in our house. 

 

We have two measuring tapes.  

Both dear hubby and I use the tape measures for our various projects.  

After I realized I couldn't find "mine" the other day, I went on a hunt.  Yup.  I love a hunt!

This time, I found both of them up in Button's bedroom.  We are in the midst of decorating it.  I think he might have grabbed mine from my studio thinking it was his.

Now, I don't think we will have a problem! 

I just can't see him using the pink one.

Want to claim something in your house as yours?

Here is a real quick tutorial!

..............................................................................

Embellishing a Tool Tutorial

(and please note the tongue-in-cheek humor I have)

Supplies:

  E-6000 glue

Magic Glos by Lisa Pavelka

Scrapbook paper

Gemstones

Flowers

Computer, Printer

I forgot to take a picture of the Magic Glos....you will see it later in the tutorial

  

I first pulled out a scrap piece of scrapbook paper from my stash.  You know me and my scrap hoarding problem!

I then went to my computer and made a circle shape and placed my name inside the circle.  I played around with the font and settled on "Zapfino" and played with the line styles.  

I then placed the paper into my printer.  I pulled out my circle cutter (luckily had was able to cut the circle to the exact same size as the label of the tape measure).  

When you choose your paper, hold it up to the light to see how transparent it is. I realized that I had a problem when I added the dimensional gloss.  I could see through to the label.

What a FAIL!!!!

Not good!  So I quickly reprinted my design on the paper and glued a piece of solid pink to the back. 

I then glued the new label onto the tape measure using the E-6000 glue.  Can I tell you that I never knew about this stuff until recently.  Feel like a duh! 

I guess this is what happens when I can't watch Carol Duvall anymore.  Remember her?  She moved from HGTV to DIY, but the show ended in 2009.  She always was up and up on the craft world.  I truly miss it!

Anyway, focus Heidi......

I started to add the gemstones.  I pulled them from my scrapbook stash.  They are a continuous line of gems with a sticky back and were really easy to work with on the curves.

You can also easily trim them by simply cutting between the gems with scissors.

I decided to add a flower, but realized that it was made of paper and didn't want it to bleed.  I added a few drops of the Dimensional Glos to keep the "bleeding" down.

 

Then I glued it to the paper with E-6000 glue.

I covered the whole thing with the dimensional gloss.

I couldn't take a picture of the process of poring....because I wanted to do it carefully.  And I think you get the idea.  It just takes a light squeeze.  But look how it makes a layer of hard covering.  It is almost like a piece of molded plastic.

Let me tell you how much I love this stuff!  There is no mixing of catalysts or powders.  And cure time?  Fast.  Like 5-15 minutes fast.  Of course, it really is for jewelry like this.

   And I swear I have a tutorial in the works for it.  Just haven't put my mind to it!

You simply place it out in the sun.  The gloss cures under UV light.  

And if you work at night, like I do most of the time....there is an easy answer to fix this problem.  A UV light! 
 I have this one:

 I swear, this project only took me 15 minutes from start to finish!  I left it out to cure for longer only because Button was hungry.

My only complaint?

I wish the actual "tape" was pink!

I think I just might do this again on some other items that wander out of my studio............

My Mess of a Blog!

This is a shout out to my blog following friends!

I realize more and more that my blog doesn't have a true "fit".  If you read my heading, it says that this blog incorporates my love...for TOO many things!

I know that I have loss followers who are wondering, what the heck are all the craft posts?

I know that I have craft/sewing follower who are wondering, what the heck is with all the grief/loss posts?

The answer is this.

I would love to compartmentalize all of my posts.  I would love to have separate blogs.  

But the reality of it is this.  I love to sew.  I love to craft.  I love my kids.  And I have lost a child.  All of these things make me who I am am.   And if you are having trouble understanding this maybe this post would best describe what I am trying to say.

Therefore, in a way, this post is to let you all know that I understand that my blog is a mess.  Honestly, my life is messy.  I cannot compartmentalize all my parts.  They are all with me at all times.  I sit at my sewing machine and see this. 

  

In short, I have thought of changing my blog, but I can't bear to.  I would then have to separate these things in my life.    In plain speak, I DON'T WANT TO.

So thank you for following me.  Please be patient with me.  I honestly don't know how else to do it.

If you have suggestions, I will gladly listen.  I need all the help I can get!

Time

For a Quarterly Review
.....of my Hopes!

Remember this post? (Hopes Not Goals)

I thought I would do a review on how I am doing.  I figure it would either ramp up my anxiety or ease my obsessive mind.

We shall see.

 

• Internet hopes:  My URL has been purchased.  My logo is in the final stages.  The website will have to wait awhile.  In the meantime, I will use this blog and my FB page to cultivate orders.  I have organized my blog recently, adding pages.
• Grief hopes: Things have been picking up on our online support group.  What was once only about 25 of us in Dec 2009, is now, sadly, bursting at the seams at over 200 women.  I have been trying to continue writing grief or recovering grief posts.  And I am really excited about Butterfly Kisses, my very own charity.  It warms my heart!
• Sewing: I am pretty happy with the things I have made for the baby.  I am also happy with some of my custom orders.  I still have a long list to do.  Our first few weeks being parents again has set me back apace.
• Baby Button:  Wow.  What a rollercoaster the last 6 weeks have been.  Yes, six weeks!  I am completely in love with this guy!  He gave us a legitimate worry when he was born, but I think I have relaxed.  I am so THANKFUL he is healthy and here.
• Embroidery:  I have been SO excited with my progress with using both my embroidery machine and my embroidery software.  I plan to learn more!
• Quilting: The only thing I have done is a throw pillow.  Bleh!
• Crafting:  Nothing much going on here.  I am sure some will pop up when I decorate the nursery and Little Big Man's room!
• Scrapbooking:  Went on a retreat in January.  I finished my 2010 and 2009 (ok..confession..have a few more pages in that one to do!). I have a new album for 2011 to start on my scrapbook retreat THIS WEEKEND!!).  Won't promise myself much, but need to get some serious scrappin done.  My hopes list was loooong for this year!)
• Family:  I think I put them first when I decided not to return to work after maternity leave.  I am officially a stay at home mom again.   They need me to keep the home front warm for them again.  I miss working, but I know home is where my heart is.

So in review........I don't think I am doing too shabby.

  But I really need to get it in gear!

Tie-Dyed Sharpie Project

"Happiness is a habit-cultivate it."

Elbert Hubbard

This past summer, JJ bought a tie-dye shirt from Target.  When I washed it the first time?  It turned pink.  Thankfully, he enjoys the color pink.

After that, he "knew" that I knew how to make tie-dyed shirts. 

 He has been nagging me about it since June. 

My confession? 

 I didn't want to do it.  I knew it was a messy process, and I don't like projects that require a shower when I am done!

Then, I found this tutorial from a favorite craft blog I follow called Crap I've Made.  She is my new hero.  This project could not be any easier.  And bonus points for being CLEANER!

So I want to share the project with you. I took a few photos so you could truly see that the boys were able to do this on their own!

TUTORIAL

 

Supplies

Sharpies

Rubbing Alcohol

Squeeze Bottle

Plastic Cups

Rubberbands

T-shirt

Choose a spot on your t-shirt. Stretch it over the plastic cup and secure with a rubberband.

It was really interesting to watch the boys choose placement. 

They are very methodical about where they were going to put their "circles".

The boys put 6 dots of one color in a circle.

Then they put another 6 dots in another color in between the first set of dots.

They did learn that the bigger the dots, the more color/spread they got.

They also did 12 dots of one color and liked the results.

And, of course, they did some with three colors.  LOTS of fun!!

Then just drip the alcohol on top of the dots.  The original tutorial instructed that after 15 drops the circle did not get any bigger.

  She was right!!!

The boys experimented and found that if they dripped on a color a bit more heavily than another, the color would be deeper.  

Cool, hunh?!?!

And here is proof that they can did do it themselves!

And proof that hubby actually ventures into my studio on occasion to help out.  He is helping Jacob get the sleeve over the cup in this one...it was a little tight.

Don't they look serious?

FYI...JJ occasionally needed help from me keeping the shirt taut while he put the rubberband on.

So....do you think he is happy?