Kitteh

The newest member of our family Lucy. She looks so sweet in this picture but she is actually quite feisty. I have no idea how Adia got her to calm down and fall asleep like this...

Candy Sack

A Halloweeny Candy sack made from an old T-shirt. I made four of these last weekend. Super Easy! If they hold up well I may make some reusable shopping bags out of more old shirts.

No Sew TuTu

I know it looks like a big blob of tulle but it really is a TuTu, Adia is too big to model it and I didn't think it would be nice to have Landon wear it. I found the tute here http://www.skiptomylou.org/http://www.skiptomylou.org/

It was a little tedious to make but overall quite easy. If you have any little girls that would like their own TuTu let me know.

Ribbon Barrettes

I don't know if I should even post these since they were so easy peasy to make but they are cute!

Crayon Rolls

These are so awesome! My kids received some of these in a swap package last year and I have been wanting to make some ever since. I found a great tute for them here http://www.skiptomylou.org/ and decided to take a stab at making them. The sewing machine actually cooperated and I was able to make two of them last weekend. I plan on trying to make some more to give at Christmas time.

Appreciative

I have been reading some peoples blogs lately that are all about their personal struggles. One of them is written by a widow who's husband killed himself while she was pregnant with their first child. http://onenoteshort.com/ The confusion and hurt she feels is at war with the happiness and love she feels for her child.

Her blog led me to http://www.januaryfirst.org/www.januaryfirst.org/Blog/Blog.html
This blog is written by a father who's daughter was diaganosed with schizophrenia at the tender age of 6. It records his struggles with a daughter who is severly mentally ill, insurance companies, and the state of California.

I am avid follower of Matt and Madeline who's story made me seriously cry when I first started reading about it over a year ago http://www.mattlogelin.com/ Matt was turned into a single father and widow the day after his daughter Madeline was born prematurely. He has made me cry, laugh, and be totally inspired by his story.

Matt has a friend who's blog I also follow http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/ I can't even begin to imagine what life is like for the Spohrs after losing their daughter Maddie. This one usually just makes me tear up.

I am not sure why I am drawn to these blogs which are for the most part pretty sad and depressing. Part of it is probably morbid curiosity as to what these people who have suffered so many losses are feeling. Maybe they give me some hope that even when bad things do happen life goes on, it may hurt but we can pick up the pieces and keep going. But I think the biggest reason is that it makes me really APPRECIATE all the the good things in my life that I tend to take for granted on a day by day basis. My kids, our health, my signifigant other, my friends, my family, that I have a job and a home. That I can provide food and clothes and toys and things for my family. It makes me realize that my life is not perfect but it could be a hell of a lot worse.

Dots

I must have these Dots. I know they sell a large bag with a mixture of the three Halloween flavors in mini boxes. I have already had the Ghost Dots last year and they were quite tasty. I really really want to try the Bat Dots, they are supposedly blood orange flavored. I will be heading to Walgreens this weekend to purchase the bag. YUMMO!

In other Halloween news the kids want to decorate the house this year and so we have lots of new decorations that are just wating to be put up. Probably not until the first weekend in Halloween though, I will post pictures of the kids and their decorations later.

As for crafting I am done with all my current large swap packages and am not going to sign up for anything new until after the holidays. I have plans of finishing a stocking I started last year and trying to make two or three new ones before Christmas. I also want to make crayon rolls for the kids as part of their presents. I will have lots of new crafty pictures to post later this week. I know you can't wait.

Walmart

I am a Walmart shopper and am not ashamed to admit it. I used to LOVE Target but lets face it Walmart is just less expensive. Target does have better kids clothes though but lower prices are always going to win for me cause I am cheap and broke most of the time. Here are some tips on how to save more money at Walmart http://www.ehow.com/how_2258807_save-more-money-walmart.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

If you need a laugh you need to check out http://peopleofwalmart.com/ After looking at these pictures I am starting to wonder if Walmart attracts a different crowd of people.

You could also be on the other end of the spectrum and hate Walmart with ever fiber of your being. If you do this is the place for you http://www.hatewalmart.com/ It will satisfy all your Walmart hating needs and maybe give you a few more reasons to add to your list.

If you want to score some free samples, Walmart is always giving away stuff http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-And-Tools.aspx
even if you don't need it, how you can resist FREE???

I'm Kind of a Big Dill

This stenciled shirt almost turned into a craft fail. I printed typed out the words, printed the stencil, cut out the stencil, and painted the shirt and never once realized that it said I'm Kinda of a Big Dill. Not until after it was done. Thanks to my very talented friend who covered the a in Kinda with a lovely pickle! Crafty I may be but an artist I am not. She saved my butt from having to redo the entire thing and it turned out even better than originally planned. Thank KJP!

Nesting

Ryan says it looks like a flower and I guess it kind of does... But it's not! It's actually a nest with eggs in it. It's a nesty eye patch. Made for a swap partner who requested an eye patch.

Poke Me Please!!!!

A mushroomy pincushion. This was again made for a swap partner who likes the little shroomies and collects pincushions. The top is a little wonky on account of I have never tried to sew a circle on and make it flat. I have since learned the right way to do this but it was too late to go back and fix this one without having to resew the entire thing. So the top is just going to have to be wonky. I think it gives it character.

Buddha

I embroidered this Buddha. It was made for a swap partner. I thought it would take me forever but actually went pretty quickly once I got started. I did learn a few things that I will do differently next time I take on an embroidery project though. This was pretty much my first all embroidery project. Not to shabby if I do say so myself.