Birthday Present, anyone???

My new thing to sew these days is pillowcases. It's probably been one of the most fun things I've ever sewed, if that's possible. I love fabric!!! It's my thing!!! So when I get to pick out fabric and mix different patterns to created the pillowcases I get so much satisfaction from it. I was having so much fun sewing them that I decided Lela could take one as a birthday present to a friend of hers. Another idea that had to go along with it was a doll pillow. So today, I spent my time putting my idea to fruition. Everything seems to have turned out really cute and I'm really excited about it. All I have left is to design a little card to go along with the packaging that tells exactly what it is. Hopefully it will be well received, it's hard to tell with a six year old, but if Lela's reaction is any indication then I will be OK.

Here is a picture of the doll pillow with its matching pillowcase. They turned out pretty good, uh?

Here is the packaging I created for the pillowcases - cellophane, paper shreds and curling ribbon. Ah, just lovely....

IDEA: Easter Wreath

I always try and keep sometype of wreath on my front door. I love the way they make the front of the porch a little more inviting. For the past few weeks it's been screaming for sometype of Easter wreath. I had actually been looking for one, but couldn't find anything I liked. Well, the other day a friend of mine had made a wreath out of bright colored eggs and tulle. I absolutely fell in love with it! So, today I decided that I would do my version of her idea. I grabbed my hot glue gun and off to work I went. It was so cheap to make which makes it that more fun! I spent $5.00 for all the eggs (which was a total of 10 bags and I even had extra left over) plus the wreath form which was no more than around $3.00. So, for less than $10.00 I got this awesome one of a kind wreath.

The Winds Of Change Are A Blowing

This year has definitely been a year of change for me. When I look back at January until now I'm really surprised at all the stuff that I have had the opportunity to experience and try. It's really quite cool in fact to see where I've come from to where I am now. In fact it was one of my New Year's resolutions to step outside the box, but something I have noticed with stepping outside your box it changes you. For the better? For the worse? I think it all depends on how you view life. Something that didn't occur to me was that once you step outside your comfort zone you can never go back; all the boundaries you once knew have moved or they have completely disappeared. What that does is cause you to move forward and take another step further from "the old you." Some days moving forward is easier than others, but the one thing you can never do is stay still. Oh, trust me when I say there are many days when I think where in the world am I going? And it scares me to death. I try to think back to who I use to be before marriage, before children. There are still the insecurities I have of a graphic designer who never felt truly good enough. The one professor who felt the need to question every decision I made, which I swear still plays havoc on my psyche. But I also realize that you can only let that control you for so long. At some point you have to stop playing the victim. So, with all that said "the winds of change are a blowing!" I can either choose to go with them and enjoy the exciting adventure that awaits or I can choose to stand stagnate and fight the desires to let go and be free.

Our Little Stinker

Yesterday, I posted about Lela and how she is growing up. Today, I decided it was only fair for Lacey to have a post of her own. So, here is a little bit about our youngest.

Lacey is the little clown. Miss Personality. She is definitely the stinker of the household. Of the two girls, she is our free-sprited child who is extremely expressive. She is such a sweet child, who rarely shows her temper. She loves her baby doll and refuses to go to school without her. She gets her feelings hurt very easily and when she gets in trouble she will tell you, "I love you, Mommy" or "I love you, Daddy." She thinks she is as big as her sister and definitely keeps up with Lela and her friends really well. She has also been known to be put in time-out at school a time or two, which is something Lela would have never thought about doing. I laugh because two children couldn't be any different than our girls. She is the yin to Lela's yang and we wouldn't have it any other way...that's for sure.

Growing Up

It's so fun to me watching how our girls are growing and changing. Lela in particular has all of a sudden blossomed into quite the young lady. This is a term she is not to happy with but nevertheless its a term I love! I first noticed it a few months ago. All of a sudden as if overnight she started reading. Then she was writing the most beautiful letters I had ever seen on paper. And then she was spelling words for me? Wow! Despite the trying times we have with her it is so definitely worth it. She reminds me a lot of myself. Not only is she my carbon copy of how I looked as a child it's her spirit that I'm drawn to. In the past few months I've learned to let go and let her be...well, herself. She loves pink! Everything in her wardrobe she thinks has to be pink. From the top of her head all the way to her feet. When this first started I so tried to fight it, but then one morning I woke up and said "Oh, well it's easier to just let her be." I also realized that this couldn't go on forever (or could it?). In school, I was one of "those" kids who dressed in all black and I've turned out just fine. What's so funny is I really don't even own a lot black in my closet, now. Yesterday she talked me into buying her some pink Converse hightops. Boy, did that bring back memories of me trying to convince my mom that I need black ones. I love this child! She definitely knows what she likes and its hard to change her mind. She is such a sensitive and polite little girl who loves her friends and sister, dearly. She is also turning into quite the artist as well. My favorite thing she has started doing is pausing the TV and then proceeds to draw what she sees on the screen. I have seen her intrepretation of SpongeBob all the way to Mickey Mouse. I love it when she asks me if its OK that she makes somebody's hair purple. I always tell her she is the artist and she can do whatever she likes. I just pray that she will always have the confidence to be who she is...a beautiful and unique child of God!

Here They Are..

I promised you that I would upload a few of the many pictures I took yesterday. So, without any further a do here they are...

Lacey had just woken up from a nap and she really wasn't into the whole picture taking thing at this point.

Such a sweet smile, but with a devilish side to her personality. She can be challenging but I love her spirit!

I love Lela's eyes in this picture. I'm so excited because I totally captured what are called "catch lights" in the eyes. Her eyes are truly this blue.

This is a picture of Lacey's hands holding one of the rice krispie bird's nest I made for Lela's Easter egg hunt. I love the innocence that this picture evokes.

Product placement of a gift card and catalog...nothing to exciting, but I do love the background.

Sickness Abounds...

Despite the fact everyone in the house seems to be suffering for some sort of illness, I've remained healthy somehow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will continue and all of us will be functioning at 100% soon.

My photography class yesterday went GREAT!!! I'm so excited and pumped. After I got home I started "practicing" on the girls what I learned. Poor kids, they will probably be sick of me. My mind is spinning with ideas of things I want to try out on them. I'm really happy with my camera and I feel like such an idiot because it is so much easier to use than my old 35mm film camera and the quality is amazing, of course. I will post some pictures that I took yesterday of the girls and a couple of product placement(?). You must remember that I come from a graphic design background and I worked in advertising for almost five years, it's in my blood.

A big thank you to the Vintage Flea for hosting the class. I love this store! It's probably one of my favorite places to find unusual and funky gifts. Not to mention they are having some kind of class that I want to take. If you ever get chance go check it out!!! I can always seem to find something there to spend money on. And also thank you to Sara for teaching the class. You are amazing photographer and teacher.