where'v you been?!

just kidding... I know I'm the one who's been missing. We had some fun company last week and I've just been stockpiling good things to blog about! Also, our camera is on its last leg. The battery lasts (literally) about a minute or two, after charging all night long. Hence, not a lot of pictures being taken round here lately. Anyway, here's what I've got...

Joshua trying to hide from the camera. Yeah, I totally can't see you there. Oh, look at my fabric in a mess in that box on the floor. I'm slowly but surely getting a little sewing area set up. At least I'm not sitting on the floor next to the box anymore.

And here's a product of my new workspace... a cute lil' outfit for Zoe! It's 2T, so it will (still) fit her next spring. I lined the bottom of the pants w/ the yellow so that the size of the cuff can change as she gets taller. (I sewed them evenly, I just cuffed them unevenly in the picture. I'll press them at her current height when I can get her to hold still long enough for me to adjust them while she's standing)

unfortunately, our little model was taking a nap at photo timethis is what Joshua did when Craig told him to put his underwear on this morning

And here is the dresser/hutch I painted for Zoe's room. Don't think I have a before photo, but my great grandfather made it for my mom when she was little. I probably sanded off a few layers of lead paint, come to think of it. It was white with red knobs & now it's 'barely pink' with pink & brown ceramic knobs from craft-a-holics emporium... uh, I mean hobby lobby. I put her little board books in the top and blankets, etc in the bottom. I may move the books to the bottom too and store some fabric in the top.

and the crayon rolls I made our TX nieces & nephews for belated bday presents. 3 boys and 2 girls. Obvs. (I linked to the instructions, which I got from Leslie)

the before and after

here's our laundry room before.... and after!!! (notice how I just have more room to make a mess :) Here are the hilights... we repainted it some blue/gray color I can't remember the name of, put up an extra wire shelf (thanks, Allison!!), and Craig built and installed a countertop - almost entirely with his Dremel tool, I might add.the countertop is 30" deep and 5' wide, and since they didn't sell the right depth at Lowes and we weren't about to order it custom for $45/sq ft, Craig bought the wood and made it himself with a sheet of formica. It didn't take him long, came out looking beautiful, and the whole project cost less than $100!

Taking after Daddy, Joshua's fixing his bus. He actually got this battery cover off with the screwdriver when Craig and I weren't looking. I think we just looked at each other and said "uh oh" but then congratulated Joshua because he was so proud of himself. And so were we :)

As for me... I did not need another hobby!!

I don't even have time to do the ones I already have! I guess I liked doing my first quilt because I immediately started another one. I blame the fabric, though. I have a huge box of fabric taking up space, and the idea of not only using it, but using it to make something cute is obviously irrisistable to me.

I forgot to mention that I batted Zoe's quilt with Craig's receiving blanket from when he was born. This next quilt, I made with all the receiving blankets we had from Joshua and Zoe. Some were really cute, and I didn't want to just throw them all out, and I didn't think anyone would want a bunch of used receiving blankets.

I would like to try stippling with this one, but I'm not sure I can do it on my machine, so I'll have to do a practice piece first. I have the top finished but still have to piece together the back from the receiving blankets I have left. I'm planning on using big blocks of it. Also, I'm going to use one of the many quilts we've gotten but no longer use as batting. I'm sure you with children know all about having an overabundance of certain gifts. We loved them all, but it's time to repurpose.

This is what got me started on this quilt. Who wouldn't want a quilt this cute??!! I only used 20 squares because (a) that's how big the batting is and (b) I didn't think it would be wise to start a twin sized quilt for my secong quilt ever. I would be likely to sit unfinished in a box for years.

plus, using child labor makes the whole project a lot easier. It's all about outsourcing.

Oh, by the way, this is where I sew. I know!!! How horrible! I sit on the floor between Craig's bed and dresser. I need to figure something else out!! And the ironing board is set up in the middle of my bathroom so I can shut the kids out.

HGTV up in here...

Our neighbors came over yesterday and told us our garage looked like HGTV. We've got 4 furniture refinishing / painting projects going on (of course I forgot to take 'before' photos!). I did some home improvements while Craig was away too. In addition to the photos below, I installed a 12' shelf in our closet, and did a few organization projects in the garage.

Zoe eating her oatmeal and yogurt with a spoon. She did well with the spoon but it was faster for her to use her fingers so she mostly did that. Needless to say, we've been doing bathtime in the morning.

Joshua wearing Daddy's baseball shirt. Look how my darling husband destroys the bed when he sleeps.
Such a big girl! We gave her this mug for her bday and she is pretty good at drinking out of it already. All that practice she's had trying to drink out of things in the bathtub. yuck.

here's the birthday girl. More pictures of the party in the next post

here's the pendant light Joshua and I installed while Craig was away. big improvement over the fluorescent light, and I didn't have to come up with a valence for our nice open pass thru. here are some of the first veggies from our garden. this zucchini was the only one on the plant. It was about 6" long when I let for NY and about 13" long when we came back 6 days later. Not exaggerating. The peas are about done now, and the tomatoes are about to start ripening faster than I can eat them. The jalapeno was super hot... I'll be making some good pico (w/out cilantro - yuck!) pretty soon!

I also painted a few (4) rooms while Craig was gone as a surprise. We both HATE painting so I knew Craig would be happy if he didn't have to participate. Once I got going, I enjoyed it, and it passed the time quickly. Joshua and Zoe watched A LOT of movies while I painted (and painted, and painted...) I painted our bedroom 'sand 3' (aka beige) and painted the master bathroom, closet (which it 6 x 12, so it's as big as a room), and massage/guest room 'vale mist' (benjamin moore 1494). We love it! My across the street neighbor is an artist so I commissioned her to paint something for the massage room and paid her in massage for it. I love it!! (she has an etsy shop - search for Erin Wardell - if anyone is interested :)

Zoe watching baby einstein and playing with a remote that doesn't work

prissy little missy!

a tisket a tasket....

Zoe in her basket!
Although we have plenty of furniture in the garage just waiting for a good re-do, I thought I'd start small with this basket. I have a before picture somewhere (it was the normal wood color with an off white lining) but you'll just have to use your imagination. I have more of this striped fabric, which I was/am planning on using for a crib skirt and/or part of a quilt for Zoe. 'Cause I've got all this extra time on my hands, you know.

Even pretty when she's not smiling... I got them both to look at the camera!

I still can't believe how blonde her hair is!!Joshua wanted to get in too, but I told him he was too big. I realize he's been wearing Elmo a lot lately. There are many reasons for this, into which I won't delve at the moment. Just wanted you to know that I know.