Summer in Review~ 2010

The initial purpose of this blog was to give family and friends who live far away a fun place to go to see what our daily life is like. So I could post pictures of the kids where I can write a little something more than a caption under the photo and tell them what we were doing on a given day. It has since turned into something so much different. I realized that I liked talking to other moms and blogging about crafting.
Who doesn't like to get gratification on what they put so much hard work into?
Whether it be motherhood or the arts.
 I love keeping up with other moms and realizing that I'm not the only one who has difficulty on the subject of raising kids . Being a mom is the best reward, and the love of your children outweigh the hardships, but sometimes it gets hard. So it's nice to know you're not the only one out there.
 I love the crafting outlet that this blog allows me. You know you can spends hours, days, heck even weeks trying to finish a project and you show it to your husband and he looks at it for about 10 seconds and says, Looks great honey. Really? Are you sure you looked? I know I've been lacking in the department of posting crafty stuff. The truth is that I haven't really done anything. I know, its crazy. Our summer has been so busy that I can't find time to sit and do anything.But I am currently little by little working on a quilt for my sister. It's going to be super special and very meaningful. I will share when I'm done piecing the top.
 The last thing I love about blogging is photography. It's a long time passion of mine and I'm grateful to be able to talk and share with other people who share the love with me. I've learned alot and love the outlet that snapping pictures provides. I may not have been sewing, gluing or glittering, but I have been taking alot of pictures!
So now that school has started, and it's safe to say that summer is officially over (YAY!! I can't wait for fall!!!) I will wrap up with our summer in photo's. I have so many from all our journeys, and I didn't chose the best ones to share, but the ones that mean alot to me!!
This is what this weeks theme on I heart faces is!!

                                                      P #3 Learned to ride his tricycle.With lots of falling of coarse!~ June 1st

Our Garden grew lots of yummy veggies and fruit. I hate to say it, but I'm kinda glad it's over now ~June 2nd

Flying to my sisters. P #3 Waiting for our flight and loving the planes! ~June 4th

Longwood Gardens, PA~ June 6th

Rehearsal dinner for Carmen's wedding ~ June 10th

Carmen's Wedding ~ June 11th

Family BBQ ~ June 12th

Washington D.C. ~June 14th

Camping at Knoebles P.A. ~June 16th

Amusing ourselves at the amusement park. This was honestly the coolest place. I can't wait to take the kids back.

Rehoboth Beach, DE ~ June 18th. I was so bummed that my battery died in my camera and was only able to get a few shots while we were there. Beautiful beach, and it was hot!!!

Dust Devils Game~ June 27th

The hubs and I managed to sneak in a date!! We went to dinner and to see Eclipse~ June 31st

4th of July on the river

We had MANY MANY days of playing on the slip and slide. This picture just cracks me up!! ~July 15th

P #1's  9th Birthday~July 16th

Birthday party at the pool ~July 17th

Visiting great friends that I miss very much! ~July 25th

We took a long drive to Long Beach, WA. It was dreary and cold but SO much fun! ~July 30th

P#2 cut off all her hair and donated it. ~August 3rd

Water Park with Family who came to visit.~ August 18th

Playing at the local park with my niece (and nephew, but he was at the skate park) ~August 22nd

Football Started!!! ~August 30th

And the end of summer,Thus the begining of school

What has everyone been doing? I haven't really been keeping up on my blog reading either:( If you've posted something share a link and I'd love to see what you've been up to!

Gifts Galore!!

I've been working hard on being such a slacker. I decided to sit down and  get done some of the projects I've been wanting to complete. I have lots of Birthdays coming up, and one I already missed. I really enjoy giving gifts, but sometimes (especially lately) I totally blow it off. So I decided to get my but in gear and just do it!

                                                                                      The outfit I made my niece

                                                     The hubs was not too excited about our little guy being my model

But just look at all the ruffly ruffles! I Love them, and want a pair for myself:) I think that may be my next project

Clutches using Noodleheads Gathered Clutch Tutorial. I fell in love with these when I first saw them. all of hers were so darned cute!!! And her tutorial was super easy to follow.

I just changed a few things. I learned after the first that you really need to make your front cut longer so it gathers more,and there is no need to buy (3) 1/4 yards of fabric. I did just fine with scraps I had laying around. And of course I can never leave anything as-is, so I added embellishments and a strap to one to make it a wristlet.

I think I will be making more soon.

This is my favorite one. Too bad they're all gifts:(

My second Fave, I love the little flowery band

And my least fave, I actually don't really like anything about this one.Other than the back.

This part is cute.

Happy Thursday! It's almost Friday.. YAY! That means only 2 weeks till we leave for my sisters wedding:)

What are your plans for the weekend?

Shirring is not my strong suit

Here's the story about my first experience with shirring. My daughter was going to her BFF's birthday party. And In my madness of preparing for my trip to Delaware I completely forgot about a gift for her to take to her friend. My first thought was how can I be so forget full, and leave on a vacation and leave my daughter empty handed {terrible mom moment}

and what can I whip up quickly? My girlfriend had an idea about making a shirred summer top, she said they come together easily and take no time at all. I ran to the fabric store, picked out fabric and came home. With my friend at my side, we started sewing. But half into it I kept asking why isn't it doing anything? She said sometimes you have to wait till your done and go over it with a steam iron, then it will pucker up. But no it didn't. After a while we got frustrated, and ended up just pulling every single thread and sewing in elastic.

I'm not sure what went wrong, we think it's my machine. I read just about every tutorial out there about shirring and did everything right. If anyone has had similar problems or knows the solution, please share!!! Never the less it tuned out adorable and you can't tell my frustration in the end result.

Flower Poms and a travel companion

So my sister and I were trying to rack our brains and come up with something cheap and cute to decorate the ceremony site. Right now she has nothing. Tulle is pretty much out , were going for pretty, not 80's, and though I've seen some beautiful decorations done in tulle, its kinda ify, will it look fabulous or something from Bayside High's prom? Too risky since we will be responsible for set up,and no one else to blame if all goes wrong:)
 After some time on the world wide web, I found this cute idea using sheppard hooks,with pomander balls hanging. Well flowers are expensive, and you know whats not? Tissue paper. And It looks wonderfuly wonderful.
P#2 and I decided to try it to see how easy it really was (before comitting to the wedding), and P#2 made them all! She had SO much fun, she kept asking if we could go get more tissue paper and make more. And she now has super cute decorations for her room.

On a different note. Here is the purse I made myself. It's more of a carry-all for when we travel. Something I can throw a bunch of stuff in for my 1 personal carry on item. I think it's fabulous and will be cute on the beach,

oh I can see it now....

{don't mind the wrinkles, I tried and tried to iron those puppies out}