Just words (and a link)

I so wanted to have an adorable heart pin or two to show, or a finished quilt, or a little skirt, or some couch pillows, or anything, really! But, alas!! I have been working full days the last 4 weeksand will for at least the next two. I'm still working very hard to keep up with the housework and I must say my house is a much nicer place to be! Not at all disgusting and a bit cozy. Well worth the effort, but leaves little time to sew.

I do love my job, so that helps(I am so happy to be there!). I get so tired, though! It's exausting! My poor family!
All you moms who work full time, I admire your stamina!! Good job!!

Now, something crafty... ...checking out my bloglines today, I was lead to THIS brilliant post!! It's a seam-allowance tool!-read it! I am making one today!! Awesome.

Still Cleaning

Whew!! Clean House 2010 is still in motion. It has slowed down a bit, though. Lots of babysitting, a very important wedding and some extra hours at work coming up will put the whole project about 2 weeks behind.
So happy to have a clean bedroom and kitchen (well, nearly. didn't get to the fridge or floor)! Woo-Hoo!! It's amazing how much stuff we don't need hangs around this house(and garbage. Wow!) Good riddance, Dirt & Junk!

Sometimes I Clean

But not often enough...So, I'm putting aside my needles & thread while I beat this house into submission with duster & vacuum. All corners will be scrubbed and all closets will be sorted!

I'm calling it "Clean House 2010" There are many lists and a scheduled plan! Week 1-master bedroom-was already a success!(We even painted it "herb tea"-after 4 other color tries) Next up--a 2 week plan to clean the kitchen. (I'd show before & after pics, but then you'd see just how dirty it is!)

Coldplay

Sold out show at the Clark County Fairgrounds on Friday. So great!! And I decided Will the drummer is my favorite band member!

The weather was perfect! It looked like rain to the left. It looked like rain to the right. But it didn't rain on the amphitheatre!!

Our spot was very near the center. Great view. The lights and video were great! The performance was so good!

They did a great job keeping the audience engaged and made it feel like they were playing for you!--Right down to thanking the crowd for giving them our Friday night!! So fun.
There were 2 mini stages! one in the back of the seating and one in the front of the lawn.--this pic is our view when they played on the lawn! I love the close to stage stuff! James pulled me at a run to get such a great spot! and the crowd was pretty considerate of every one's space-considering!
Highlight--Being 8 or so people back from the stage for an acoustic cover of "Billie Jean". Awesome!!

Home Stretch!

Only 7 weeks of school left! Time to pull together all the projects at school we've started, plan my final field trips, end of year celebrations, track meets(and practices), field trips for my boys, fundraisers (to send 7&8 grades to Wa DC next spring), birthdays, one family reunion (including soup, bread, muffins and cookies to make ahead to bring), and all the day-to-day. All great stuff!! Here I go sprinting toward June 11!!!

I just decided...

I need a loom so I can learn to weave. I think I'd really enjoy it. I could keep it in the living room and watch movies and weave away! That'd be cool! Because what I really need is another hobby! (but a loom would be cool!) Then, once I'm really good at it, I could get a spinning wheal and spin my own fiber!!

Be back soon!

It'll be pretty quiet here for the next 3 weeks or so. I dropped my laptop on the floor and it is now at the laptop hospital. Hopefully, I'll have a few things to show off when it comes back! "till then--Julia

Playing catch-up

Last week was mid-winter break, so I had a 3 day cleaning marathon and now my house looks like it did before except no dust and fewer cobwebs. oh, well. It felt good to get it all done. I hardly sewed a stitch...working away on my busy bee blocks when I get a minute to sew...I've (as always) a few other things finishing up and the ever growing list of things I'd love to make.

I also saw Coraline last week...I loved it! I'd see it again! It's a little lovely, a little creepy, a little reminiscent of good old Alice...right up my alley!

I have a cold and it's snowing!!

the cold is yucky, but the snow makes me happy(I may be alone here, but it's so cozy and pretty!)
So, I only made it three days of finishing ufo's!...and one day sewing mustaches to fulfill a spontaneous promise to my class. I had to do a little research for ideas and was highly inspired by lupin's disguises(check out Etsy for more great mustache stuff)!.

Here are the projects I did finish:

Another sock buddy! These make great baby gifts!!

A wall hanging for a fairly patriotic little nephew.( the quilting is sideways, but I am NOT picking it all out!)

And this crazy apron made of neck ties. This will be a gift...it's made of her Dad's old ties!

Up next?...a pile of busy little quilting bee blocks! how many can I finish in one day?

Sewing away!

Sewed 14 mustaches for pre-school today...I have 2 finished ufo's to show when I have time...and I've started a valentine softie, I've my Busy little bee blocks to do (2 for Jan and Feb's fabric is on the way!)AND really want to play along with the Sew Mama Sew doll quilt sew along Whew! Good times :)

finished project week!

Check out Artful Ties for a link to the necktie snake instructions--I didn't really read all the directions, so mine's a little different. I like him, though.

I've set myself a goal for this week...Finish one ufo each day for 7 days! I'm off to a good start-I finished these TWO projects last night!! On the table for today...well, there's plenty to choose from! I'd better get busy!

Looks like so much fun!!!

Must...resist....urge...to ....sign....up...for...this....swap!! (you should see what everyone did last year...Amazing)I don't realistically have time to participate and make a mobile to send someone...But I really want to!!! I have to make it all the way to Friday(that's when sign-ups end). I really want to play along, though!! The Busy Little Quilting Bee quilt block swap has been so much fun and inspiring, wouldn't another one be even more fun!!? but there just isn't time...

More linky good stuff

Cuteables: Features lots of great handmade stuff, artists and where to get it!! Every day!



Kid's Craft Weekly: A weekly newsletter full of great craft/activity ideas for young ones. Each one is produced around a theme which is perfect for me!! Super fun stuff--Hurry to check it out now!!



Softie Making: "resources for making handmade softies" seriously, I think that says it! Ever wanted to make a stuffed toy? Think you do now? Think you might later--look here!!

Speaking of softy making I think I NEED this: Stuffed magazine!! aaak!

I also think I need to make a chocolate cake!mmmm...cake!

For your reading pleasure...

Wanna check out a few blogs I really enjoy?...
The Crafty Crow is great for kids crafts, links, party ideas, games and an occasional giveaway! (like today!)There are great ideas for my little nieces & nephews and I've bookmarked lots of posts for use in my preschool class! Good stuff.
Bad Bird is Andrea Zuill's blog...Her embroidered quilts are amazing! I also so love her drawings...I've not bought any of her prints, but I plan to!! (I love her chickadee-so cute!)
The Toy Society is a project who's purpose is to spread some handmade love around--and asks nothing in return! I love this! How sweet to be going about your day and find a gift left by a stanger just hoping to brighten someone's day! I paticipated in the Christmas drop and plan to do it again as soon as I can pull another little package together.
And...ThreadBanger is full of inspiration, projects and how-to's! Especiallyif you like DIY fashion! (I don't really make clothes, but I like to read and think about it a lot!)
That's jus a few, I love a good blog! Have a nice day all!!

If my kitchen was clean..

And if I had time...
I'd bake gingerbread men and cardamom bread.
Right now! yum!

Deserving of It's Own Post!

This is the mug my first born made me for Christmas!! His teacher is a potter and offered the kids pottery lessons during thier recess time. My son (to my great joy) cranked out quite a pile of lovely things! and so thoughtfully saved his first project for ME!! (the other things, he gifted away to his grandparents and I forgot to take pictures.) It is so fun to see his work improve with each piece...I really hope he makes more!!

Hand Made Gifts

I made some gifts, you know 'cause I told you...but I received some great handmade gifts, too!! I am excited about them, so I'm going to share some of them here! Like this....

Yep..50 pounds of corn flour! And a corn flour cookbook made especially for my family! There are some hand drawn illustrations and lots of blank pages for me to add recipes! I really love this gift!! I've never used corn flour before, but I'm excited to give it a try! Isn't this fun! (and very practical!!) Corn pancakes and tamales coming up!!

It's snowing!

Oh, I'd be so happy if it snowed all day! every day. through Christmas day. It's so pretty! and fun! (stayed up late sledding with lots of friends! SIL and her kids stayed over, Husband made everyone breakfast!) oh, how I'm loving this week! (it's nice to be busy and distracted) cozy. warm. family. friends. What more could possibly need?

Sad or Glad?

No school again today!! So, this year Christmas break will be 3 weeks! yay snow..sew sew!

My kiddos had a blast sledding all afternoon at their cousins and stayed over! fun! hot cocoa for them when they get home!

niece's b-day tonight!

Ahh..gladness!

No school all week also means no pre-school! no pre-school Christmas party. no gifts crafted for their parents, no stories or art or painting the snow or poems recited. I miss the little turkeys!! I may just have our little festivities after the new year! Poor little guys!

They also canceled the school's Christmas program! (it was right to do it, no school=no practice) but I love it & was especially excited for this year because my son & nephew each had lines, Nephew & other son learned instruments with their class to play & little nephew had a special song to sing with the Kindergarten (who I had last year)

oh..sadness

Today I will be enjoying...

No shcool because of ice & snow!!
Time to work on some Christmas gifts!! I have grand plans but time is running short! I wonder how productive I really can be.

Ahhhhhh...Off to elf my day away!