Recent Sewing/Nesting Adventures!

 

So It's Official 6 Weeks left before my due date.

I'm Nesting.

I blame the Dr. who on a recent visit said 

"well all you've got left to do is wait!"

Ugh thanks? 

I thought as I sat there feeling like my due date 

was still a ways off.

How to cure my grumpies,

(and help pass the time - as if 3 kids wasn't enough!)

GET BUSY!

So I sat down and started listing.

I started with Pintrest of course!

Mostly because I wanted to do a freezer meal day. 

Um did I mention that our freezer is tiny?

We have some staples that we use every week 

that get stored in the freezer 

so there was limited space to begin with.

But I figured it out and after one afternoon of prep 

had almost 12 Freezer meals ready and prepped. 

I know I'll use them and Shane is already grateful!

Next up was a diaper bag.

Well I confess mine was great in its prime,

but it had seen better days.

(I also had recently left a stinky 2year old diaper in there 

for more than 3 hours . . . more like 2 days,

I was having trouble getting that stink out!

It had been gently loved enough that it was pretty much coming apart!

 

Oh and it was tinted pink slightly in some spots from a red wool coat + snow.

 

 I had been looking at bags at the store and

 couldn't find anything that I really liked 

so I decided to find a pattern I liked 

and then modify it a little.  

This is the Pattern I used 

(I added a few things though - Its a pretty basic pattern) 

https://amingledyarn.wordpress.com/gallery/tutorial-hip-mama-diaper-bag/

 

First off I added the Ruffle to the front.

 

Next was pocket ruffles.

 

I loved that it had a zippered pocket on the back,

I confess I installed the zipper backwards

 Lots and lots of storage! Gotta have the pockets!

This idea was from another bag I looked at - a key clip.

No more scrounging for lost keys!

One more feature I added.  

An elastic band to hold extra sippy's/water bottles.

I loved this Idea as our video camera was drenched twice 

in the move due to leaky sippy's!

I had a great time doing research and deciding 

how to make this bag all mine. 

I confess I felt like I had a workout after sewing this one 

especially with so many layers,

(its canvas/duck) so its pretty heavy.  

 Seriously my arms were aching!

I had a ton of it left over and so I kept thinking 

of things I could sew with it!

Next is a cute car seat canopy!

I used this tutorial - 

http://www.sewdangcutecrafts.com/2011/03/guest-blogger-peek-boo-car-seat-canopy.html

 

It was way easier than I imagined!

love the peekaboo window!!

Did I mention earlier how much this house is so awesome even 

with 50 year old laminate in the kitchen?

(but it's pretty much in mint condition 

so no complaining here!)

The polka dot flannel on the back came with another project.

I love it!

In the end I also added these buttons. 

(initially I had intended to used them with the diaper bag 

but they seemed to fit better here!)

I had seen bows and flowers and all kinds of things.

This was just right!

Last of the canvas - but probably not the end of the projects! 

I still have a great deal of black!!

My momma emergency / In a pickle pack!

You might remember me making these last christmas!

http://sjhudsonshappyhouse.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-dresses-and-other-craftyness.html

I had indeed sewn about 7 of these bags that year for my 

sisters - sisters inlaw - mothers etc. 

I had gathered all the stuffing for mine but never sewn it up.

Today was the day and with almost 4 kids I was feeling like 

I had ample reason to need one in the new diaper bag!

Shane even likes the sparkle that I added!

 

 All Stuffed and ready to go!

Last but definitely not least were the two baby quilts.

I only have pictures of one - the other is not quite finished yet.

Disclaimer:  If you are Diana Ruth Walburger and want 

to keep things a surprise till I get you your blanket,

close the window and move on with your day.

Otherwise here it is!

The first of two Rainbow Quilts!

(if any of you are following me on facebook the 

day with 5 needles breaking in my machine - 

this quilt was the culprit!)  

Man did I learn a lot about sewing that day!!

The girls had also helped me pick out some 

awesome ribbon to make this fun taggy mini quilt!

 

All this sewing was making me itch!

My sister gave me 5 boxes of table linnens 

just last week - I'm Making CURTAINS!  

Doesn't sound too important I know, but it is to me.  

I'll save that for another post!

Ms. A Turns 6! An Art Party!

Ok just to get this out of the way,

THIS POST MAKES ME FEEL OLD!!

Whew - ok that's out I'll move on to the fun!

We had an amazing birthday party for our Ms. A.

She's one of those kids that wants her whole class

to come to her birthday (at least all the girls),

so it was hard for her to just pick a few friends

to invite. 

In the end they had a marvelous time and

everyone had some fun!!

So here's what we did!

First off all the girls made a glorious mess!!

Painting!!

Here's a sample of the finished products!!

Then they went off to wash their hands while I cleaned up.

They were gone for a bit longer than I thought they should.

When I found them they were enjoying some awesome bed jumping!!

After that they decided to spread out the Barbies.

After that we did Jelly Bean Bracelets.

(Not everyone was a fun but we enjoyed trying!)

 

 Then we had some snacks and got the cupcakes out!

Singing "Happy Birthday!"

Cupcake Decorating!

And Eating!!

 Present Time!

Grandma and Grandpa came right at present time 

and had some rowdy fun to distract the other kids.

She sure was a happy girl and we're grateful for all the loves!!

Year of Dates

Well I thought I should post some awesome Date Ideas

that I'm trying with my husband this year.

I added more dates for fun holidays like Halloween etc.

Here's our list for the year,

I hope it inspires you to spend some extra time 

with your LOVE this year!

January: You Tube Date

Random You Tube mashups and hot chocolate

(example: elephant water-polo)

February: That reminds me date.

Head to the dollar store or walmart,

you each get a list of events 

or characteristics that you purchase or 

take pictures of something to coordinate with it.  

Then you sit together and share what you found.

(example: Item= our first date, 

Picture/purchase = spaghetti, mittens, etc.)

March: Mall Scavenger Hunt

This one can be a group date or you can 

work together to find all the things you are looking for,

Ice cream or food court Chinese after your list is complete!

April: Taste Test Date

This one I am super looking forward to.

You can do this as a group or with just the two of you,

(group sounds way more fun).

This is a fun time to taste all kinds of treats.

choose three brands of each type 

(chips, popcorn, salsa, crackers, etc.)

Then you vote and decide which tastes best!

(I think this would also be fun to do with breakfast cereals!)

May: Fantasy Suite Date

I'll let your mind wander on this one.

June: Build it Date

This one takes a bit of prep to choose a project before hand,

then we have all the materials we need that night

to complete the project that we choose and do it together!

July: Fate Burger Date

This one is definitely a group date. I am also super excited.

Play a target game like darts etc. except instead of shooting 

for points you are shooting for burger toppings.  

Make sure to put some unusual ones like avocado or fried eggs.

Then once everyone has played the game you get to laugh 

and watch everyone eat their creations!

July Bonus Date: Birthday Date 

This one is just a night to do whatever he wants to do 

with the trunk full of random supplies we might need.  

Swim suits, tent, snacks, blankets, Etc.

August Date: Space Date

laying out under the stars and learning about 

some of the constellations.

Gonna have some space food to go with this one! 

(freeze dried ice cream etc.)

August Bonus Date: Summer Sizzler

Taking a night with the family to go out to the lake. 

Swimming, sand castles etc.

Our dates with the kids sometimes turn out 

the very best!

September Date: Harvest Date

Head out (probably with the kiddies) 

to pick some awesome fresh produce.

October Date: Strip Trivia

no explanation needed here.

October Bonus Date: Halloween Night

Theme Movie Night - Including Costumes 

November Date: Not so Newlywed Game

More fun with a group. Make sure to have fun prizes!

December Date: Camping

Sleeping under the Christmas Tree, possibly in a fort/tent.

Make sure to turn on the yule log channel or  go ahead and 

build yourself a fire in the backyard!

December Bonus Date: Christmas Eve Date

One on one Traditions for Christmas Eve 

beyond last minute gift wrapping.

Anyway I hope this inspired you to make some plans 

and put things on the calendar!

We have definitely found if we don't things 

are busy enough that it just passes us by.

New Years Day

Ok so honestly I had the most Boring New Years of all time! 

My kids on the other hand LOVED their new years day!!

Grandma Cathy bought them x-country ski's for Christmas,

therefore it was only natural to head out to the 

Crowsnest Pass to try them out! 

(they had already skied around the back yard enough)

I was feeling way too pregnant to go so Mr. T and I 

stayed home and watched cartoons all day 

(I was actually kinda productive aka I made Ms. A a birthday present)

while the girls and Shane went skiing.

They loved it!

What good kiddies!!

Loving their outdoor natures!