Christmas Cactus (postcard)

We look forward to this bloom every December maybe because at this point its the only thing blooming in our house. It was my grandmother's plant who has since past away, but its a lovely reminder to me of her.

What Im doing.. on days like this.

I really am busy people. Im sorry if you regard me antisocial, but to me I feel like December is the time for going on a crazy creative bonzanza like this week. Lets see on a wild hare I decided to whip up some stockings(we didn't have any for the girls)Im trying to finish some UFO's Ive neglected since March. I scratched the girls Christmas dresses and let my mom buy them, but instead I have been tasked with making PJ's for the my mom, sister, and I.Couldn't help but buy some cute Christmas flannel for a tie quilt for Ro. I'm helping Jeff finish his UFO that hasn't been worked on since Aly was 2months old and I have a set to paint for A's preschool program due on Monday. Here's it so far...Hahaha! Look how peaceful this appears it looks so serious, so focused.. so artsy yeah right if only you knew that I had to get up from this contemplative spot in my hallway to break up fights, set the timer for sharing, take away foamie swords( don't ask me what possessed me to purchase them) So, sorry if I haven't been interested in seeing New Moon for the 30th time with you or sadly why we have declined your playdate.

Art Group Fruit and Veggie

Well we had our second art group meeting and many more showed up this time. Making it an interesting expirence in my I used to think not so small kitchen.

First Toddler Art Group Meeting

I must say that I LOOOOVE The Artful Parent... Thank you!! Jean is so inspiring, her work and ideas have given me the confidence to attempt something like this. I think it was a success granted we only had two come and join us, but it worked wonderfully. The plan was to have a texture hunt ..we would go outside in my scary backyard and make rubbings with crayons of the various textures we found. It was a little cold outside for starters and our guests were a little younger than expected I'm guessing about 15 months old...No problem.. I started out on the floor in my living room, I gave each child an toy with different textures we shared them.Then I read Pat the Bunny, Aly became my assistant with the little ones. Then we just used the toys and floor to obtain the rubbings. Aly did really good and surprised me, she found all sorts of unusual textures: blankets,#10 cans,etc and them to the others. Afterwards, we went in to the kitchen and painted over the rubbings with watercolor.This I believe was the first painting experience for our guests.After they looked done we took everyone out in my scary backyard and played for a while and had snack. It all lasted about an hour it was great! Thanks to the parents who brought their little ones over.

Pumpkin Drawings

I saw this on Artful Parent and in desperate need of self directed time, I handed Aly and Ro pumpkins and told them to draw a picture of them. I had a feeling when Ro wanted to participate that they would take to drawing on the pumpkins and they did. They looked great! This was the first time that Aly has really gotten into drawing with oil pastels(the last time she was having tactile issues.)

Aly's New Three Tiered Skirt ! I love Fruit!

Not much of garden

But, with some good compost and the early onset of monsoon season in June...hardy har har yes, it kind of sounds like an oxymoron here in the desert, still we can't wait for monsoon season: afternoon thunder storms that cool things down. But now we are expirencing June heat in July ... I think its (EL NINO)I'm not liking that ...at least the tomato blossoms got good and pollinated and I have a bunch already ripening before the 90's hit this week. We are also trying Artichoke which is a bit finicky with its 360 days before fruit. Jeff planted sweet peas as well but a volunteer pumpkin I think.. is taking over. We are being very casual with a garden we just dump water on everything and see if it grows. Not like the summers past when we had 200 ears of corn and a 500 jalepenos. Oh but next year before we landscape we are going hog wild!! Trust me you'll see.

Dipes for Kaleb

More Sewing... I think I'm losing steam but I managed to whip out a few of these babies. How would you like have your bum in a pair fleece lines pocket dipes huh? Well, I suppose only if you aren't potty trained. Well I found I started doing research on cloth for my own pre-P-training babe and my sister in law is trying it with her newborn. SO I thought she would like a few to try as a a gift. I made a few for Ro but I think I want to purchase some Aplix-very softer hook and loop aka. velcro and some PUL the waterproof fabric they use when making fancy AIO diapers.It seems like a little too much effort to first stuff the diaper and then cover it. But it was worth the try and they would make great backups or help with the babysitter or like my mom who is adverse to cloth diapers because they are so hard to 'deal with' putting them on. Oh sorry about the BYU dipes, but my brother in law went to school there yes, it appears as though we are very mormon doesn't it? But My husband and are Lobos and it was bad enough for me to join the Church ...its a disowning offense in my family to go to the biggest rival in the Mountain West.

Tutti Fruity Three tiered skirt

Tutti Fruity Ro, originally uploaded by farrow29am.

This Ro tooting in a three tiered skirt from a pattern I purchased and then realized how simple it really is. I've been kicking myself since then. It was intended for Aly but she has grown in the last month it seems ans its just too short. Love the fabric !! going to make and apron for myself from it.

Kimonos for Audge

Kimonos for Audge, originally uploaded by farrow29am.

Ive made 6 of these Kimonos . You can find the pattern and tutorial on Habitual. They were so fun and quick, just what I needed for my continued Sewing obsession. I orignally purchased the purple and green stonehill fabric for a baby quilt found in Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts: Joelle Hoverson ...but soon realizing that most of the baby showers I attend the moms to be often are swamped with baby blankets...you crafty mormons ! So the kimonos are perfect.

Sewing Summer

A's strawberry dress 5t, originally uploaded by farrow29am.

So this is what happens when two weeks of staying with my in-laws for a remodeling project turns to a month. I just happened to bring my sewing machine and the pattern pieces for this dress and I sewed it in three hours, not satisfied I needed more. So here goes the next few posts showing off the fruiiits of my labor and marathon of sewing.

Easter Dresses, They are Done!!

Yeah!These puppies are done and I love them I was a little nervous with the pattern, I couldn't decide if I should put the sleeves in or not they (sleeves) looked a little eighties to me but I wanted sleeves because; I hate trying to get Aly to wear sweaters over the dresses. Which is why I decided to make dresses in the first place in search of modest and cute ( I don't want my kids looking like they just escaped the compound.) clothes. I love the fabric and I think I just see is they have a yellow or something and make a skirt for myself and show off to everyone at church what an Oooober Cute Family we are!!! I also experimented with invisible Vs. Regular zippers something I rather feared and made my mother in law do on the Christmas Dresses. But I conquered them both and although the Invisible required a little more precision and working with it wasn't half bad. It really helps to have a good sewing machine.

Scrappy X Quilt in Progress...Hmm I have to make how many blocks?

Alright, So I have been ogling back and forth on whether to try this quilt I saw on Happy Things I look at my stash that I started a couple of years ago that I have never really used ...and started to hack away.
Strips
Stacks O' Strips
Here's a block, so I was really getting excited when I finished 14 or so blocks I thought yeah Im half done!! Then I started calculating... I did want this quilt for Aly and she will so be graduating to a twin (if that room ever gets finished)54 blocks needed!!! Argh.I keep think would it be so bad if I just made a daybed size? Then when I felt confident I could move to working on a twin. Nah I probalbly finish the crib size and never ever do a twin...so I'm thinking big. I did mention HACK Right? I am mostly self taught so don't look too close there are a lot of mistakes that I will probably pay for when I put this puppy together. P.S. So if you wanna tutorial on this block go to Happy Things.

More Slings!!

Slings for Aly 1 and 2

I love these batiks that Aly's mother-in-law found. She, mom in law, wanted something a little african but not too...something unique but good for church. I suggested these quilters batiks. ohh so lovely to work with you could still feel some stiffness from the wax they used.

My Shiny Sink

I'm shining my sink!!! I'm not really into resolutions I like to make them every few months, but It just so happened that my sister in-law recommended this website
!! Its a all out BabySteps ( I can't help but think about "What About Bob?" approach to organizing,cleaning,and decluttering. Its kind of cheesy at first with all the FLYing Acronyms but It seems to be working at least for me. I'm a sucker for Nice Southern Women like Paula Dean so I'm adding FLYlady to my favorites. I suppose that for this new year I will keep a shiny sink!