how charming

sing your favorite song - because what is life without music?

peace on earth. amen.

rock the boat - I wish I could have found a kayak, but this boat will have to do

sew what - it doesn't matter what you quilt, as long as you're sewing, right?

get dirty - out in the garden or in the tool shed!

bloom - always growing something

A few interchangeable charms for my aunt.  I had fun picking out charms that related to something in her life, and trying to find funny sayings she'd appreciate.

teacher gifts

Conner happily picked out the fabrics and beads for these different projects.
A red scarf and matching clutch for his teacher.
He also made her a red bracelet that he put in the clutch.

Then for the teacher aide he chose these purple fabrics & beads.  I did the sewing, he strung the bracelet.

fashion design

I made 5 kits for Christmas presents this year.  Using my Sizzix BigKick dies I cut a bunch of foam and felt bodies, felt and paper outfits, foam hair and shoes.  I added a small bottle of craft glue, a big handful of sequins, a few googly eyes, ribbon and tulle scraps, stickers, and a few pearls.
Hopefully the girls enjoy their time making some fun dolls for themselves!

roses are red (and pink and white)

and lined with minkee!  This coat is an embroidered corduroy and specially covered buttons.

My third niece got this coat for Christmas.

seeing spots

Another niece got this ruffly polka dot jumper.  I covered the buttons in minkee and used a bright ribbon on the shoulder strap.

velveteen

My niece needed a special dress for Christmas and this is what her mom and I dreamed up.
The bodice is velveteen (nearly impossible to sew with!) and lined with muslin.
I don't know the name for the skirt fabric, but it's a fancy cream fabric, kind of stiff, and covered with flocked flowers.
The bow at the back is black satin.

2011

It's been a crazy two months.  Let's recap:
-craft show
-You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (played keyboard in the pit, the show was two weekends)
-week long trip to North Carolina (Thanksgiving with my brother!)
-Christmas presents (some still in progress)
-Christmas orders
-rearranging my living room, play room, and craft room (pics to come, I promise)
-trip to Michigan (Christmas with aunts, uncles, cousins)
-lots of overtime for my husband

So - here I am.  I made it to January, and I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I want 2011 to look like.  Last year I picked a word and this year, I've done that too.  But more than just a word, I have a phrase that hopefully signifies my new outlook on life.

In my kid's playroom, I have three words painted on the wall - Live Laugh Love.  Next to them are three picture frames, each with a picture signifying it.  As much as those three words are important to me, I believe there is so much more to life... so my new phrase is "Love-Believe-Give-Live".  Not that I don't want to laugh a little along the way too, but I just think that it is important to believe in something and to give what you can when you can.
I'm not sure how much I'll be sharing here in this space, but my life is definitely headed down another path.

So, my word for the year is: contentment.
Not everything was fulfilled last year as I may have wanted it to be.  So my goal this year is to understand that the control freak inside of me needs to chill out and be content!!!  I have so much to be thankful for, and happiness and contentment is waiting for me.  I'm not trying to just maintain or be complacent, but find contentment in my life.

What does the new year hold for you?