Anti-Valentine's Day

Around these parts, we don't really celebrate Valentine's Day.

 Twenty years ago, our first Valentine's day was really romantic. I recall my darling husband making chocolate mousse, dipping strawberries, Kenny G in the background and being "oh so romantic" *currently rolling my eyes*.  The second Valentine's day consisted of him dropping off some sad looking flowers in a McDonald's super-sized plastic cup at the dorm front desk I was working at that night.  

Since then, Mr. Boss and I both agreed that Valentine's should just be everyday, since he lost all imagination after the first.  Just this morning, he even clarified that his morning kiss today was "just the normal goodbye morning kiss...that's it."  He is such a goon.

However, this year?  I thought I would give a little love to the boys for Valentine's Day!

He was so funny this morning.  

He was lockin' and poppin' while I was trying to take a picture of him in his Valentine's duds that I made him.

In case you can't see the heart, here is a close-up.

I also was able to whip out a Valentine's Day Bunting for the fireplace mantle yesterday.

They are just simple 8.5 inch block cuts with hearts that I appliqued with a machine blanket stitch and letters I cut out using a word document, wonder under, and a zig-zag stitch.

 

 I flipped and stitched the squares to some random ribbon in my stash.  Actually, all the fabrics are from my scrap stash and the striped fabric, that reminds me of feed sack quilt backings, was from some yardage for a future quilt backing.   No money spent!

I bought some small candy items for the boys and a red rubber ducky for Button since he collects different duckies for the bath for when they arrive home.

Don't worry, I didn't totally go crazy.  I went a bit, um, cheap with the Valentine's Day cards for Button's Class.  I had some blank textured card-stock cards that I colored a heart on each and then let him go to town with his crayons.   

Keepin' it real around here!

Someday, I will make a Valentine's Day quilt....

 However, I have to admit, it is low priority on my bucket list of quilts to make!

To those who love the holiday, I hope it is everything you hope and wish it to be.  To those who are in my camp....give the family a hug and kiss just because!  I plan on doing so when they all get home!

WIP: All about Button!

Button's Birthday is tomorrow...

 I am in the midst of throwing a party...and nothing to show for it.

All quilts are on hold.

So for you reading entertainment....

Some eye candy.

Photos of my little Valentine.

He was kind enough to pose for my embroidery design photo shoot.

 

But then he said that he wanted some privacy to eat his strawberry yogurt melts.

I wanted to fix this machine embroidery design up a bit more so it sews nicely....but I want to add it to my new Etsy store.  

So, please, FEEL free to give me advice!  I love the heart, but I am not sure that anyone got my heartthrob connotation around here....

Any other ideas?

Linking up!

My Little Valentine's

PHOTO BY KRISTI O'CONNELL PHOTOGRAPHY....I LOVE HER WORK!!!!

Have I shown you these guys yet?  I woke up yesterday morning with three cards shoved in my face. 

 Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy!!!

I have never really been "into" Valentine's Day.  Hubby calls it a Hallmark Holiday.  I secretly agree....

However, last year, I decided to give the boys a gift on Vday from their sister. They were delighted. 

I decided to continue the tradition this year.....

Their responses:

youngest......Oh, mommy, Jamie gave us a valentine's....I love her
middle........Mom, we got an itunes card from Jamie.  I think she dropped it from heaven on a parachute.  Then it landed near our house and somehow got in our mailbox.
oldest......Oh...silly Jamie....she sent us a valentine's day gift........*BIG SMILE on his face*

I think I might like Valentine's a bit better now..........

BUTTON is due to arrive tomorrow morning..........just sending a shout out to those who are the praying kind.  And if you're not.....we will take "thoughts" too!!!!!!!

Brand New Heart

"Only God can take the pieces of a Life that's come apart and patch it all together to make a brand new Heart."

Quote and design from: Love and Friendship Quilted Pillows

I really wanted to do at least one project for a new sew-a-long blog challenge.  It involves my favorite group of ladies "Crafty Sewing Mamas"  Do you just love that name?!?!?  Anyway, today is the second week of the blog challenge.  I missed out on the first week because I have had my hands full.  And honestly, don't think I will be able to participate every week.  I am hoping that I can at least make a dent in the list this year!

This week's project:  A pair of pjs or something for Valentine's.  I decided that I wanted to do something that not only was Valentine's, but also related to our blog love-fest "What Love Really Means".  I hunted through my MANY books and found this foundation pieced pillow design.  I instantly knew that it would be perfect.  I needed a pillow cover for the Valentine's holidays for my studio, wanted to do a bit of piecing and quilting (it has been a while) and I thought the quote was so fitting for our goal this month!

I just LOVE when a saying or a quote fits my mood and I can use it as inspiration for my projects! 

My life was in pieces...and God has patched it together.  I think He is doing a pretty good job!

 

I have never attempted foundation piecing, so this was quite a joy to do! 

 Keep your eyes open for a tutorial (shooting for tomorrow)!!!

TUTORIAL HERE!!!!!!

And as always........totally made with scrap fabrics I had.  The background fabric is an single loney napkin I had hanging out in my stash.  You know that always makes me happy to use up items from my hoarded supplies!!!!

Love Lives Here

 "In our life there is a single color,

as on an artist's palette,
 which provides the meaning of life and art.

It is the color of love."

-Marc Chagall

If you recall, my friend, Mattie, invited a few of us to blog about love this month.   Her blog, Beauty Will Rise, is where you can learn about her triumphs and trials through the loss of her precious darlings, Shyla Joy and Jakin. 

Today is my turn to write a bit about love for the project called What Love Really Means.  Follow the button on the sidebar to read more from some amazing bloggers.  I am thoroughly enjoying them myself the past few days and completely honored that she asked me to join in!!

LOVE LIVES HERE

If you haven't noticed, when I set up this blog, my description was and still is "A place to incorporate my love...My love for my children.  My love for my family.  My love for crafts.  My love for life!!!" 

 So, I find it very fitting to finally write about my love!

 

"Love is coming face to face with the knowledge

 that you've found the best friend you'll ever have in this world"

-Lucy Murray

18 years ago, I was a mere 17 years old when I met my husband.  He helped me move into my college dorm.  14 years ago, we married shortly after I graduated from nursing school.  I am flabbergasted how many times we have moved, the amount of changes in our lives that have occurred, and the blessings we have been given along the way.  We both have had the opportunity to grow in our careers, our hobbies, and our spirituality.  I have had the honor of staying home for many years.  I have been working part-time as the clinic nurse at my boys' school...a dream come true.  

 We have three AMAZING boys that we can't imagine life without. 

"Now I know what love is"

  -Virgil

Even with our normal lives, stressful times, we had no idea how one small little bundle would rock our world a little over a year ago.  We found out that our daughter, at 18wk gestation, had a fatal condition.  We were encouraged/instructed that early termination was the best idea. 

 Our own hearts guided us differently.  We decided to carry her as long as we could. 

Jamie Lynn arrived and our life has never been the same.

"You will find as you look back upon your life

that the moments when you have truly lived

are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love."

-Henry Drummond

I often say that the day she was born, you could feel the bubble of love in that room.  A bubble of peace and tranquility.  My mom comments that God was in that bubble with us. I don't think she is far off.  The world around us continued, but we stopped.  We stopped to be with her.  Our boys were there to see their sister alive and then silently drift away from us.  My husband and I turned and clung to each other in our grief.

   I witnessed the day that my boys' hearts were first broken. I pray that they never have them shattered and splintered like that ever again.

  I know that in that room, we realized how precious each of us are to each other. 

  I would never want that taken away from any of us.

"Love is love's reward" 

 -John Dryden

And I know that through our love for her, our lovely Butterfly.....we could only see the arrival of our new bundle "Baby Button" in a mere week and a half as such a precious gift from above.  

"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get

-only with what you are expecting to give-

which is everything."

-Katharine Hepburn

After she was gone, I could only continue to put my love in my sewing and crafting. Love into being with my family.  Love into taking care of my boys.
 Really, love into everything that I do. 

 I try to honor the fact that God gave me the gift of my husband. He gave me the gift of my boys.  He gave me a gift of another baby.  He gave me the gift to create. AND He gave me the gift of Jamie.

 Instead of wallowing in grief, I can use her life as inspiration for my life.  Inspiration for my personal charity for other baby loss mommas. 
I can share my journey with other moms that are facing grief, loss, and pain.

I can "do" what she never can.

Because I love her that much...

What Love Really Means

A special lady, Mattie, that I have "met" through the internet after the loss of Jamie has an awesome blog called Beauty Will Rise.  I wish my blog was as AWESOME as hers! She is an amazing person!  I will never forget when we exchanged gifts for Christmas 2009 with some moms that had lost their November babies.  She sent me some very special gifts, all which were perfect.  I wish I had thought to take pictures!

  My heart was very raw at the time, and her gifts helped put a healing ointment on that wound.  I will never forget her baby girl...Shyla Joy.  Without the loss of our precious girls, both due in the month of November that year, we would never have crossed paths.

I was so thrilled when I heard the news that she was carrying her rainbow baby.  I was terrified when she told us the news that little Jakin's heart was not working as well as it should be.  I literally sobbed when I heard the news that his little heart had stopped.  I even posted here that day about her loss and how it impacted my outlook on Baby Button.  I had thought that I could distance myself from pain again.  The loss of Jakin proved to me that it was impossible.  I could love again, and have my heart broken again......

To my point!!! Mattie contacted a few of us momma's to blog about What Love Really Means for the month of February.  If you follow her blog, you will see me on a certain day...*wink, wink*...hmmm....maybe, say Feb 6th?

I am so excited!  I hope I live up to all of these other amazing bloggers out there!!!!

An Early Valentine's Gift

FOR ME!!!!

Spruced up my red maternity shirt.  I rarely do something for myself....seriously.

  I decided I was going to celebrate the coming of February with this really "sweet" cupcake embroidery applique.  Valentine's and Button are due to arrive the same week!

I am having so much fun with my embroidery machine lately.  We have had a bit of a love/hate relationship since I acquired her, but my Baby Lock Emore is finally living up to it's name!  

 And, yes, my sewing machines are women.  They are finicky, cranky, moody........but always reliable!

I have two more specific Valentine's appliques.  I think I am going to showcase them on an throw pillow cover and maybe hand/dishtowel. 

We'll have to see....enough procraftination....back to the boys' bedroom window treatments!