tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49568894859763139122024-03-13T16:11:49.734-06:00Tales Of The Middle Aged MommySandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-41414097965561297262018-01-15T22:23:00.000-07:002018-01-15T22:23:34.142-07:00Clearly I am NOT a blogger...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As usual, life is unpredictably wonderful....not that everything is perfect, mind you...definitely NOT perfect. But everything is moving forward. Forward is good. As my husband and I have entered our 50's (ok so that was almost 2 years ago...ha!) our nest has become more empty, our house full of boyfriends, his professional life a little more hit and miss, and mine more busy. Its been 20 years since I had a job....my youngest now 16 has a life of her own but still needs me now and then, so its part time work.<br /><br />I still love to play in my crafty nook. Here is what it usually looks like:<br /><br />
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In my defense, I've been purging and rearranging, so it's slightly worse than normal. I have plans to put my Kallax 4x4 I purchased with my first paycheck, in here this week! I'm excited to continue working on this room as we finish paying off some medical debt and get our emergency fund and savings back in line. Life happens. #stillblessed</div>
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Our puppy is now two years old, and hasn't really slowed down at all. He does have better manners now. Is this getting too random? I feel like I'm catching up with old friends...ah well...<br />
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<br />My fun, long time friends from the Idaho Scrappers group and I are still hanging around in our Facebook group and we started swapping cards again in 2017. It's been low key and fun. I really wanted to use the things I had purchased over the years, and decide what could go. Swapping helps with this process. Also, cheap therapy. Tonight, I am finishing a swap for this group. We did a really simple sketch challenge for this one...and it was strangely difficult for everyone! I ended up with this guy....sorry this picture is less than stellar....<br />
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<br />Been praying for friends that have health issues, daughters that are learning about life, family in the path of fires and mudslides, for Goodness to be seen in the world, and for the continued guidance from our Father in Heaven.<br /><br />Well, just checkin' in here....and see you in another six months...lol.<br /><br /><br />Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-20835283650781681832016-07-20T18:24:00.000-06:002016-07-20T18:24:04.345-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here I am again....clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...</h2>
<br />So, the past four months, since the Calvinball ended in March/June...so much has gone on! <div>
<br />My husband got a job! Woot! But...working at home, which is great, and different. I'm used to having my "me time", and lots of it. I'm adjusting. He's adjusting. And the girls are adjusting.<br /><br />We got another puppy...cuz we're crazy like that. That's him, up there. His name, after a family vote, is Tucker. Yes, it rhymes with that other word. And yes, its sometimes appropriate. We lost flipflops and underwear. Because our other puppy, now a year old, just wasn't so much like that. Boomer, he's a mellow guy. Tucker, not so much. But he's in puppy training class and we love him to pieces anyhow. Just don't try to wake him at night...he is VERY grumpy.<br /><br />So, then, we got my oldest daughter graduated from high school, after much online math classes. And now we are trying to get her registered for college. She learned a lot of hard lessons....I hope. She left for tour with the Seattle Cascades on her 18th birthday (and she was so sick! waaaah!) and has been on the road for 6 weeks with them. I'm SUPER proud of her...and I can't wait to see what an awesome music teacher she will be...even more so because of this adventure.<br />Here she is! Photo cred: her little sister, so ignore the lovely caption.<br /><br />
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And my middle hooligan made the varsity cheer squad. We were not really surprised, but very happy for her. She has a darling coach who is battling cancer, but is SUCH a fighter. I pray for her every day....she means so much to us and all these wonderful girls. LOVE her! So I made her a card...<br />I love the <a href="https://www.unitystampco.com/">Unity Stamp Company</a> and their inspirational and beautiful stamps.<br />Please ignore the work area. Just keeping it real. This is where I work.<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QW7FqoXmoKs/V4__LjqsngI/AAAAAAAAeLA/2jORkdTc5mUpMB_8QutfvxVK2fZXXpsOQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160719_190959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QW7FqoXmoKs/V4__LjqsngI/AAAAAAAAeLA/2jORkdTc5mUpMB_8QutfvxVK2fZXXpsOQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160719_190959.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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And by work, I mean relax and play with my stuff that hasn't really seen the light of day for 6 years, before March of this year.<br />You see, I used to live in a much smaller space, with beings that were getting bigger every single day. It was making me claustrophobic. They were turning into teenagers. And they were in the middle of little girl stuff, and big girl stuff. I really didn't know how to help them, and we had storage issues. Our current home is twice the size, (Thank the LORD!) and everyone has their own room, AND I have a space to call mine and make my messes in. I was trying to create in my bedroom/office/craft area in my old home. It was suffocating. Not that it can't be done, but it just couldn't be done by ME! I'm just not that organized when its a challenge. I wish I had that gene.<br /><br />It was SO relaxing to make cards in the hot evening, when you don't want to go outside because:<br />a) its hot. Five o'clock is the hottest part of the day in Idaho; blew my So Cal girl mind when I moved here,<br />b) there is possible a wildfire blowing smoke all over the valley and it stinks. We got a couple of nice years, with minimal smoke weeks, so we're due for a bad one.<br /><br />As I was saying, it was SO relaxing...the I want to do it every night! So I have dinner with the fam, get the dishes going, and head to the craft nook!<br /><br />The kids are busy on snap/book/insta/time that they don't want to hang with me (also, I'm no longer cool to them), so I just find where I left off with The Blacklist, or some true crime show, until I get freaked out and have to watch something lightheaded like the Kardashians because hey, its dark outside. I do this while stamping stamps that haven't been stamped and chatting it up with my own crazy friends via facebook. Its SO fun! My husband is a talk radio fan, so I can't talk to him then anyhow...he's busy figuring out who to vote for. (whole other kettle of worms there!)<br /><br />So let me share with you this weeks cards!<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okSFmCPWmfY/V5ACfBYtYvI/AAAAAAAAeLM/SprCx7u8Xi8W1rTYtvemhNNrveHviy0GQCKgB/s1600/camera-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okSFmCPWmfY/V5ACfBYtYvI/AAAAAAAAeLM/SprCx7u8Xi8W1rTYtvemhNNrveHviy0GQCKgB/s400/camera-p.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Another Unity Stamp Company card.<br />Diana Girl by Angie Blom.<br />I can't remember who made that background paper...because its all from my scraps! Love that!<br />Colored with Copics, Sakura Glaze pen in black (boots) and Sakura Gelly Roll in clear star.<br />A bit of holographic paper for the sentiment, which is from the same set.<br />This card is for my daughter, who is on the road all summer. The wonder woman is colored the same color as her drum corps uniform, and red headed like my ginger! <3 How I love and miss her!<br /><br />Next up:<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2J0cDSwDBD0/V5AEA2g-eJI/AAAAAAAAeLY/3bxi3W7zVtgVRG3w_Wu4w3obN__f-kDZgCKgB/s1600/received_10154087144583859.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2J0cDSwDBD0/V5AEA2g-eJI/AAAAAAAAeLY/3bxi3W7zVtgVRG3w_Wu4w3obN__f-kDZgCKgB/s400/received_10154087144583859.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Orange You Sweet<br />Stamps: Stampendous, Fresh Fruit<br />Colored with Copics<br />Lasting Impressions dotted paper from WAY back.<br />And ribbon, probably from Joann's<br />Wish I hadn't inked the edges gray, but live and learn.<br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jW0xZEZ35PQ/V5AEsWofgKI/AAAAAAAAeLg/UuQiN45Vk_YBQuCjyTYXxh7GQBPGmbLgACKgB/s1600/1468640390959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jW0xZEZ35PQ/V5AEsWofgKI/AAAAAAAAeLg/UuQiN45Vk_YBQuCjyTYXxh7GQBPGmbLgACKgB/s640/1468640390959.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Happy Birthday Bird<br />Stamps: Dina Wakley, Ranger,<br />Colored with Copics<br />Inked with Distress Ink in Walnut Stain.<br />I originally wasn't going to make a card out of this bird after I colored it. It looked like a chicken nugget to me. But I tossed it on a scrap of orange and it didn't look so bad, so I made it into a birthday card after been informed that we were running out of birthday cards. (My kids, will they ever know the pain of paying $4 for a card at the store? I hope not!)<br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1DyHAjLtZ2s/V5AL8OSvCgI/AAAAAAAAeL8/BNsYmxBKH3s-HWZR8vtTXqIHSwnzPDtsACKgB/s1600/1468813522918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1DyHAjLtZ2s/V5AL8OSvCgI/AAAAAAAAeL8/BNsYmxBKH3s-HWZR8vtTXqIHSwnzPDtsACKgB/s320/1468813522918.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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Ok, blurry photo...sorry, I put the card away and now I can't seem to locate it!<br />I was just trying out something with this acrylic set.<br />Its Stampin' Up, Sheltering Tree.<br />I bent the sentiment...and I like it!</div>
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Not my favorite card, but at least I made one!<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgznE6-lMmk/V5ANKoV6aXI/AAAAAAAAeMM/aPgKDq4YdIUbitLCW_1e_gMQ4ObbAwauQCKgB/s1600/1468805991289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgznE6-lMmk/V5ANKoV6aXI/AAAAAAAAeMM/aPgKDq4YdIUbitLCW_1e_gMQ4ObbAwauQCKgB/s400/1468805991289.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lL8pyTetDiM/V5AM3oeDY8I/AAAAAAAAeME/1wINvza_qk8wbSF1k3RUtkSYXAvAxtCEgCKgB/s1600/1468797079156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lL8pyTetDiM/V5AM3oeDY8I/AAAAAAAAeME/1wINvza_qk8wbSF1k3RUtkSYXAvAxtCEgCKgB/s400/1468797079156.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />So I also did this....using it already! So glad I did it....so easy...and again, done while I was watching tv! Some of these pads I'd had for at least 6-7 years!<br />I only had to toss one color because it had separated into its green and red base colors. Not bad!<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1D1RE2OR-6o/V5ANxWArydI/AAAAAAAAeMQ/kj8B3AFyshcZOxAPM1LSA7M5rvgvhZrewCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160714_134123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1D1RE2OR-6o/V5ANxWArydI/AAAAAAAAeMQ/kj8B3AFyshcZOxAPM1LSA7M5rvgvhZrewCKgB/s400/IMG_20160714_134123.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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This one I did last week, but I wasn't blogging last week, so here it is. </div>
<span style="text-align: center;">A REALLY old SU! stamp, but one of my very favorites. I love making the bottle look like glass with Glossy Accents! </span></div>
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Made these two late last night.<br />Stamps: MFT, You Take the Cake & SU! Yippee-Skippee (sentiment)<br />Sequins from Recollections, attached with Glossy Accents<br />Random scraps from my scrap files(!)<br />Ribbon from a long ago ribbon swap</div>
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Stamps: Paper Smooches, Incognito<br />Sakura Glaze Pen in black<br />Smooch in Red<br />Dimensional heart sticker, Sticko</div>
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Mustache stamp, Paper Smooches, Incognito<br />Sentiment: MFT, Geek is Chic<br />Washi tape, from who knows where<br />Background paper, Green Stack, DCWV<br /><br />Well, there ya have it...I'm home again tonight, waiting to watch my girl on the field in Broken Arrow, OK! Come on show time!<br /></div>
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Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-2821877112018040462016-03-02T09:21:00.002-07:002016-03-02T09:23:56.574-07:00I can't believe I scrapped!It must have been at least 6-7 years since I truly put pictures on a page for any continued measure of time. But I joined the LOAD (LayOut A Day) with Lain, (her last one!) and I made a LO almost everyday for 29 days! By the end, it was kind of forced, and I stayed up on the 29th to finish seven LOs! (Granted, it was also the District 3 Cheerleading Competition weekend...so very busy). I got to bed about 2:30 am....successful in my endeavor!<br />
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I've now decided that I till love traditional scrapping with paper. And I have the supplies to continue for many, many years, only adding a few trendy things now and then. I have had to purchase some high school colored papers recently, as I have a large number of photos of the girls' activities over this year and a couple past. Life is so funny how it changes. For years it was photos of projects, field trips, and class parties, but now its competitions, awards and dances. I remember feeling like these days would never come....I was so exhausted every day from their stuff. I wasn't well...now I know, but then...it was truly a struggle. I am SO much better these days. What a true blessing!<br />
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Well, that was a rabbit trail...wasn't it? I was trying to tell you that all that scrapping made me want to continue scrapping...so I joined the "Calvinball" at Get It Scrapped. You can check it out here: <a href="http://www.debbiehodge.com/gisforum/index.php?showforum=478">Calvinball Forum at Get It Scrapped</a>. Its a silly game where you track your points while scrapping...I'm digging it already!<br />
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I stamped on this page!! I never do that! Now I want to explore other ink/page options! My friend made this lovely card, and I think I'm going to hit her up on how she did it. Its a heart with a few shades of red/pink and then it appears that water droplets were sprinkled upon it. I'll post if I make it successful!</div>
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This layout was early in my 2:30am festivities. They got increasingly sparse and simple as the hours ticked by. See?</div>
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Today I will finish up a layout from Christmas and upload photos to print. The spring round of sagebrush must be growing...so I'm just keeping it easy today....my head is killing me!</div>
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More posting tomorrow on things I've discovered while Calvinballing and returning to scrapping/crafting over the last couple months.<br />
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Have a lovely day!<br />
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Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-73418412251542754722013-09-24T09:04:00.000-06:002013-09-24T09:04:14.692-06:00Phew!Well, that was a busy few days!<br />Now that the Ladies Conference/Retreat is over, and the Golf Scramble is over....we can breathe a little!<br /><br />Suddenly, it has turned to fall here, and its time for me to reshake the clothing for my kids (so they don't free and fry every day!), and get the house ready for winter. I'm planning on some quilts and pillows for my couch, as the cats have taken over my 25 y/o scottie dog blanket (which I'm FINE with!). I'm ready to quilt with some reds, oranges, browns (sorry BFF, I know how you feel about brown!), and green. I can't leave out the green. Ready to get my house back in order too.<br /><br />But I wanted to share this awesome thing my girls did with the leftover decorations from the Ladies Retreat. We had gathered up all the stuff, and cleaned the church where we hosted the event, and we were taking these back to our home church to look nice for the next day's service. They brought them inside, and went to work at the mantel. Look how great it turned out! Not bad at all for a 13 y/o and an 11 y/o!<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">It was nice to come to church and see this happy scene.</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;">Then it was back to work in the book of Ezra.</span></div>
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<br />I'm off to work on a pillow sham with leftover fabrics from my daughters quilt I posted the other day. I just want to use up some of my scraps! :D</div>
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Have a day!<br /></div>
<br />Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-82137547126896837832013-09-20T14:10:00.002-06:002013-09-20T14:17:23.611-06:00More projects! and back, as promised.Today, I'm frantically getting ready for our Ladies' Retreat, sponsored by my church. Its an event that rotates around the area affiliated churches. We are expecting 75+ ladies this Saturday for our Relax, Recharge, Reboot event. We have a guest speaker, inspirational music, continental breakfast, and a yummy lunch to share while listening to other believer's testimonies to our loving God. I'm excited. I'm already tired, but somehow, He keeps me going!<br />
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I've been planning all along, but these decorations just got made. We were kind of in a holding pattern until we knew how many ladies were signing up to attend. Finally, we got to order the flowers, and make some of these things. These are for the food tables. We have a few folks with some food allergies.<br />
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These are our "vases" for our daisies. Most of the boots I found took the paint easily, but these rubber boots were sticky after, so I gave them a shot of acrylic sealer. Spray paint is my friend. (all boots soaked in bleach water prior to painting!)<br />
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My husband got on the spray paint bandwagon a bit...and we have these resin patio chairs that are still in great shape, they just needed an update. So they got it! Don't they look a million times better? And they match my patio furniture now! Colors are by Rustolem (Espresso and a shot of a copper I got for another project.) Can't wait for the rest to get done now!<br />
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So there you have it! My latest projects.....I have a couple more in store, but tomorrow is the retreat, so I'll have to share with you sometime on Monday.<br />
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Have a wonderful weekend. And may God bless you!<br />
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<br />Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-87731576454351680532013-09-18T09:46:00.003-06:002013-09-18T09:46:05.754-06:00Well, well, well....Look how long it has been since I blogged. Maybe I'll take it up again.<br />
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I'm just looking around here...and my goodness. Things have changed. My girls are SO big now...I have a high schooler, middle schooler, and one in her last year of elementary school. Trying to keep them connected through activities is working out for me, but probably not much longer. They all do the local drill team together; its been a nice sister thing.<br />
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Social media has pretty much taken the place of the blog, for the most part, bloggers must have both to stay connected. Which I appreciate. Blogging is no easy chore; taking the pictures, formulating the ideas, and putting it all together can be daunting. Plus, sometimes the question of "what do I say?" must arise. Frequently and frankly, I think I'm just not that interesting.<br />
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So, as I catch up my blog a little bit..... I think I'll just do it by project or as the whim hits. (which is pretty much what I do anyhow, and apparently that whim hasn't hit for two years!) Actually, I have projects to share now! More on that in a few...<br />
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I have a routine in the morning, do you? I like to (and by "like" I mean, I have to!) either get myself up and throw on my fuzzy pj pants, bunny slippers, glasses, grab a cup o' joe and take the kids to band, choir, or volleyball at 6:30 a.m. OR....let them take the bus on the days with no practice. My FAVORITE! Then I just do all those things without getting in the van, and I get to sit in my desk chair and drink my coffee while reading fun blogs, or deciding what project I want to tackle today.<br /><br />Today's funny blog was this one...oh you won't be sorry reading here....soooo funny. I already love her mom. The blog is<a href="http://mylifeandkids.com/my-addiction-almost-killed-me" target="_blank"> My Life and Kids</a> by Anna Luther. Hysterical truth, you won't be sorry. She didn't pay me to say that either.<br /><br />And I have my trusty old favorite <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Thrifty Decor Chick</a> who is entertaining and inspiring, as well. Sarah makes me have that "I can do this!" attitude about making my house how I want it to be. And reminding me that life gettin' crazy on ya, happens. Like right now, when I dropped off my 6th grader not more than 10 minutes ago and she's already called me. What was I saying again? Oh yeah....Sarah didn't pay me either.<br /><br />As many of my four readers may know, my husband is a semi-pro (hehe...I dunno what to call him!) BBQ Competitor. His blog <a href="http://www.patiodaddiobbq.com/" target="_blank">PatioDaddioBBQ</a> has many of our meals on it. I'm fortunate that his cooking skills allow me the time to <strike>goof off</strike> be creative. I don't know how I got so fortunate. I tell ya, God was lookin' out for me giving me this man! Thank you, God! I was just mentioning that here because a) he has good food, and b) I want everyone to have the time to get creative (his recipes, make someone else make them! ha!), and c) he wouldn't let me make him a quilted smoker cover....so I had to make a sewing machine one instead. Boo, right? Why not?<br />
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<br />In case you didn't know...I've kinda stopped my scrapbooking habit. I don't know why. Its not like I don't want to scrap, its just not a priority right now. Oh yes, I still have all the goodies. I've passed on some, but I kept other things for school projects and home projects. I still make cards, and kept all my stamps. But now, I'm a quilter. A home quilter...no show stuff or anything like that. I've been in love with quilts since I was a child. Both of my grandmothers were quilters, and I have a few quilts from each. A couple specifically made for me (below, made of my clothing as a child and completely hand quilted), and some just everyday quilts, which are really wonderful.<br />
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<br /><br />So, with the help of some friends and some blogs, I've taught myself to quilt. I made a quilt top in a class with a friend about 20 years ago. (Hi Vickie, if you are out there!) And another of my friends has a long arm machine, and she quilted it for me! Its beautiful....and I gave it to my mother who hung it in her guest bedroom for many years. But I wanted to quilt one myself...ya know, make it from start to finish. So I did. Here is my first real "all me" quilt, I made for my oldest daughter. (The green looks weird in this photo, but its really a lovely spring green that matches her walls, which are also not this weird color).<br /><br />
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I learned a lot on her quilt...and of course, now she is a full blown teenager, and wants to redecorate. Oy!<br /><br />I moved on to my middle daughter. She is a lover of all things pink & sparkly, like most girly-girls. I made her this one. It didn't go as smoothly, but it will do for now. (Look how little she is in this picture!!!!<br />
aaaggghhh!)<br />
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My poor baby girl, Snickerdoodle....I have not finished her quilt. Bad mommy! And she lets me know. However...I have made myself a sewing machine cover! I have a dusty house...and I'm not so fond of the dusting. So....if I could quilt stuff to cover my entire house, I would! ha!<br /><br />With the help of <a href="http://www.sewdelicious.com.au/2013/01/quilted-sewing-machine-cover-tutorial.html" target="_blank">the directions at Sew Delicious</a> (and you can see, I had horded the same fabric line!), I made this cover:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Ooh look at that...you get to see a smidge of my disorganized dwelling too! And my ipad! :D Bonus!<br />I'd never made anything like this...so I am pretty impressed with myself for finishing it. I'm also a chronic "unfinisher".....I like to use my kids as an excuse too. But really, I think I just get overwhelmed by this mothering thing. Juggling alllll this stuff is a tough business. I used to be a 9-1-1 operator, and THAT was easier than being a mom!<br /><br />Well, I am going to go take some picture of more projects to share with you tomorrow. Thank you for stopping by. Cross your fingers on that quilted smoker cover.....<br /><br />Have a day!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-15970422283433693742011-06-15T09:21:00.001-06:002011-06-15T09:21:59.467-06:00Summer!Yeah, I know, I'm a bit late with that greeting for most folks around my parts. School has been out almost two weeks, and life hasn't slowed down but a fraction. My two oldest girls have gone off to horse camp for a week, and I've been catching up on rest, which I apparently needed very badly! After all the packing up and delivering of children, I was beat! I've napped every day and so has my 9 y/o daughter who decided to stay home! (Yep, I've got a momma's girl...can't blame her, her family is all she's ever known, we are her comfort zone.)<br />
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So, here it is, Wednesday, and after I go sit with my kiddo at her summer band lessons, she's learning the french horn, and deliver some neighborhood kids back (their mom works, I just give them the ride home), I'm home to paint my daughters head and foot boards! I've had this project on my plate for a long time, with never the gumption to get started, and I've told myself for months that camp time was painting time. So that's the plan. Today, I take apart the bed, and sand....I hope to prime too, but you never know. I'll probably clean toilets while the paint dries, and perhaps take my daughter out for sushi....but sushi might wait for Friday, because I feel pretty un-hungry even after my first morning cup of coffee. I think its the ol' sinus acting up again.<br />
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So, at any rate....perhaps someone reading this can give me some perspective....after my hard drive crash of earlier this year, my blogging screeched to a halt, as all my reference pics were toast. So, I'm resorting to web links, and retaking pics, so pardon my links. Back to the perspective part....<br />
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I have this sectional (roughly, mine is a darker chocolate brown) in my living room. It was a gift from my parents, and its PERFECT for my family of five, plus fur family members. Its the best for watching movies, folding laundry, or nursing a sick kid. Each piece has a recliner, one set has a drink station in it (for the BBQ man) and the other is next to a great table I got at the Youth Ranch Thrift Store for $25 (also on my painting list!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example available at <a href="http://www.sofasandsectionals.com/">http://www.sofasandsectionals.com/</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>I found some great pillows at Home Goods that I adore...and I've done the drop cloth drapes that I think I saw first <a href="http://thriftyparsonageliving.blogspot.com/2010/05/drop-cloth-curtains.html">here</a> but they are really all over the interwebs so, who's to say WHERE I saw them first. But I want to do something along the lines of <a href="http://asoftplace.net/2010/06/diy-drop-cloth-curtains-with-a-twist/">this</a> with them. Kimba, at A Soft Place to Land, did a great job, they look so nice. She has a very inspirational DIY blog. My own DC panels are still hanging in a puddle on the floor, and since I've had a moment to breathe I noticed I drew the short straw at Home Depot and one of my panels has the seam! Ugh....so it really might end up a drop cloth! (Since today I am painting and all!)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So with my dark sofa, and my DC curtains...and 2 inch faux wood blinds....I'm having trouble deciding what color to paint my craigslist buffet, and my YR side table! My SIL says something light because very in my room is kinda dark. I have a big red wall, that I love, (helped me live with my kitchen cabinets for another year....can you say icky 80's golden oak?) and wait for more $ and time for DIY projects. So now I have tan, red, and green that I want to get rid of, but is livable for now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dang...my turn for the shower....bbl!</div>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-67098820096340660432011-01-08T20:43:00.000-07:002011-01-08T20:43:30.904-07:00Well, isn't that exciting?I finally became a statistic. My hard drive crashed. Yep, you guessed it. No back up. Lesson learned; the hard way. Most of my 2010 pics were on the local drive, or still on the camera cards (blush), and I had a CD full of my recipes. But somethings are gone until I pay $85/hr. for someone to recover it, or try the freezer trick.<br />
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So....its so cold here. I am in a deep pit of anticipation for warmer weather. Not for the reasons you might think. Not for running, walking, playing tennis.....PAINTING! I want to paint. I want to paint furniture and picture frames and bunk beds. Yes, I'm crazy. But my list of UFOs is big...and while I'm plugging away at the "winter UFOs", I really am longing for the spring/summer ones.<br />
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First I got this cool buffet of craigslist for $50. Its the perfect size for our needs, but...I have some alterations I want to do to it. First, it needs a shelf inside so that the upper portion is not wasted storage space. Secondly, it needs feet. Feet like these..<a href="http://www.extremepersonalmeasures.com/2010/12/homemade-handcrafted-gift.html">new feet for refurbed buffet</a>. So there's project one.<br />
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Next I want to paint my cabinets. Now, I've never done this big a project before. But Beckie at <a href="http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2009/03/distressed-black-cabinet-tutorial-part.html">Infarrantly Creative</a> has, and I'm going to also. I'm going to start in the bathroom. I figure if I mess it up back there, then its just my husband and myself who have to deal/look/tolerate it. If I actually had hardware on my cabinets, I'd do this too: <a href="http://hanlonfamilyo4.blogspot.com/2011/01/kitchen-hardware-make-over.html">Cabinet hardward makeover</a>. So, there's project dos!<br />
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I also have a table in my backyard I've had for two years. I need to get it painted, and use it! Great place for the girls and I to eat lunch, outside, in the fresh Idaho air. Until its 107. :D Project #4.<br />
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My oldest daughter is now 12, soon to be 13. I guess its time I did more than just piece her room together. I started a guitar quilt for her this fall, and its continuing to come along. But I want to do the following, as well:<br />
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1. paint her head/foot boards (used to be mine) Project #5<br />
2. paint her lamp. Got it from my folks, project 6!<br />
3. cover the lampshade. $3 from goodwill. Project 7!<br />
4. put a vinyl guitar on her wall. Project 8!<br />
5. make curtains for her room and put up blinds Project 9!<br />
6. paint her dresser and get new hardware for it. Project 10!<br />
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This one is not for my daughter, but I still want to do it...paint another lamp my parents gave me...and the side table I got at the Youth Ranch for $25. So there are projects 11 and 12. I wonder how long all that will take me? I can't wait for summer, because then you get busy in a different way...so I will have to dive in as soon as it gets above about 53 degrees, and before school is out. <br />
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I'll probably do the easiest ones first...the ones that I can do in the winter, or in the garage. I still have the room my other two girls share to redo. Also I want to continue sewing things.<br />
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Winter projects include:<br />
1. Drop Cloth Window Coverings (I already have the new rods, got them on clearance)<br />
2. Finishing the quilt!<br />
3. Making daughter's curtains.<br />
4. Making her a guitar pillow. Or maybe a peace sign.<br />
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All this on top of the regular stuff I do, like Good News Club for our church, Girl Scouts, and room mom for one of the girls' classes.<br />
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Tonight I filled the back of my van with donations of clothing, small children's hangers, books, throw pillows, and misc. statuary from my previous life. Yay! I'm tired of my own clutter!<br />
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Ok...well, I blogged these at the advice of a very smart friend. Here is my list, permanently and not just in my head! She is so smart!<br />
xoxoxSandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-2311861420132777892010-11-01T08:09:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.302-07:00Post Halloween & House Update<p>First, let me post the good stuff. :D</p><br /><p>This is only two of three said kids. The other one was off having a social life and promised to recreate Halloween with me today. We shall see. She overslept, didn't eat, and was generally hacked that she missed the bus.</p><br /><p>But these two were great!</p><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5136584899/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5136584899_66614681a0.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5136584899/"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">My husband took these pictures...right before we walked out the door. And in each and every one, my pirate has that string over her eye and is not smiling. Sigh. The gypsy opted for a hot pink long sleeved shirt at the last minute. By then, I didn't care one bit. Let's just get this party wagon moving!</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5137190068/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/5137190068_e1036cffe1.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5137190068/"></a>They came home with a lot of this.....this is only about a quarter of it. I can feel my jeans getting tighter as I type.</div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">So, as the week had been quite full of fun and frolic (ha!) I spend the morning of Halloween making sure that when you looked in our door you didn't see piles of laundry and the dog slobber. Our loving canine, Yukon, is being a pill in his old age and refuses to eat outside. Being old, its just not good for him to not eat...so his bowl is inside the front door now. He slings his food/slobber everywhere. Its disgusting, but I have soft spot for the old guy and his eye boogers.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">So I hounded BBQdude into hanging the mirror, and I tried out my new window treatments.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5137188584/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/5137188584_13a9447659.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br />Yes, we painted our living room/dining room/kitchen about six months ago. Yes, I've been living with bare walls. Except the vinyl bird. I had to do something! He hung this shelf and the mirror last week. You can see I've gotten right on the decorating (insert eyeroll). Its been a crazy, busy three months. I like to harass BBQdude, but I'm just as bad. I have to admit that walking in there today made it look like we tried to decorate at least. In the next picture you will see that I still have some leftovers from our previous color scheme, and some sewing to do. I should take pictures more often...because it really makes you see it through new eyes.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5136584229/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/5136584229_dcee2d0e03.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br />Yuk! That plum throw! And really that small pillow too. ICK! I can get over the pile, cuz I can move it. It was stuck there by vacuuming child, and piled with library books and drawings for me. But EW! Sheesh, how come I don't see that when I walk by? I think I want to do something to the rocking chair too. Make the green, black? Dark brown the natural? Suggestions peeps!</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5137188866/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5137188866_40862fa23b.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">Have you noticed my window treatments yet? They were a blogland sensation a few months back. I got the rods on clearance, and in my garage they lived while we painted. You can see how how they are too long in the picture above this one. BBQdude thinks I should tea stain them. I was more along the lines of adding a fabric strip somewhere near the bottom. We both agreed on raising them to almost the top of the wall.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">Oh, and here I get to show you my fabo find....the side table. I wandered into the Idaho Youth Ranch Thrift Store and spotted that guy. $25!!! I didn't hesitate. I love the claw feet and it has a drawer. It was bye-bye, good riddance, adios, and don't let the door hit you in the bum on the way out, to the 80's oak & glass table from my husband's prior life. Alleluia! FINALLY....I am rid of all that is 80's hell wrapped up in oak. Should I paint it? I need to do something over there.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">So, I <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">beg</span> ask for some lamps and clocks from my parents, and they let me have them. Of course. Actually, they have so much stuff, it doesn't matter one bit to them. To me, its fond memories. That lamp sat on my father's desk for most of my life. It only recently retired to the bedroom, for necessity's sake. I can't decide if I should paint it or not....its forrest green. It would be lovely any other color. I think that says I've decided to paint it. I unplug this lamp to vacuum a lot, and every time I think that it's maker never would have imagined halogen bulbs in it. I hope it doesn't freak out. Yeah, I'm weird. At any rate, the lamp makes me happy every time I see it....and yes, that is my geeky little Girl Scout Brownie self in the picture. I need to do something about that picture. It was just there when I cleaned up my table.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">So there you have it. The boring life of a stay at home mom without the bon bons.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">These guys say "buh-bye"!</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5137189414/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1380/5137189414_826408cc0d.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5137189414/"></a></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-58361801848458490652010-10-31T10:04:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.288-07:00Happy Halloween! Got Candy?<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5133526192/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1231/5133526192_4be92089cd.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5133526192/">Got Candy Banner 2010</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/scrappysandi/">twomarbles</a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-77345132423284482682010-10-18T12:34:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.275-07:00Once there was a girl, who had a little blog...<p>...who completely ignored it for over a month!</p><br /><p>Eh. Well, all you moms know how that first month of school is SUCH an adjustment. After you've basically goofed off for 2.5 months, except for vacation planning and child entertainment, (yeah, right...goofed off my patookie!) you've lost your groove. So, the blog suffereth. ;P</p><br /><p>Everyone is safely back in school. Bean has started junior high, and has already lost about eight thousand things. You think I jest? Let's see....one gym shoe (yes, one), gym lock, math book, sweatshirt,concert music,and audition music. Ok so maybe, 8K was a slight exageration. Her father has given her a once a month "Get Out of Jail Free" card by saying he will deliver items to her exactly once a month, no more. But I made the mistake of calling my mother and mentioning that Bean had left her gym clothes behind this morning, after a late night desperation washing. I wasn't going to take them. Then I talked to my mother. Sigh. My mother loves my children more than she loves me, so she poured on the guilt about how they had rescued me with keys to a locked car, empty gas tanks and such. I rememinded her that that had not happend more than twice, and if I had left my gym clothes behind, I new better than to call my mother. Because there is NO WAY she would have brought them to me. She chuckled, but the seeds were sewn.</p><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5094671087/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5094671087_9bec2e1948.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5094671087/">Bean</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">Doesn't she look sweet? Don't let her fool you. ;)  She's acutally a lovely girl. I'm very proud of her most of the time. Sometimes, when she spills cat water across my dining room and leaves it like fairies are coming to clean it up, I'm not as proud. But hey, she came by her lack of cleaning skills through DNA. Mine. My mom...neat freak, obviously, I was adopted.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">So, if you are a seasoned mom, you know that "Wow, I've gone back to school!" feeling when your kids ask for help with homework. And by help, I mean that you have to read the whole book to figure out what the heck they are supposed to be doing. Last year I had a ton of "help me with history" which really meant, "read this and tell me the answers". Um. No. This year, we have some forced reading, but everything else seems manageable. BlingBling has lots of work this year. All the normal math, spelling, history, reading...and she's added an instrument, flute. Its become our family instrument. Thank you, Cousin Donna, all those years ago for making me want to be smart and competent like you. Now my daughters are following in my footsteps. At least two of them so far.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5094671329/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5094671329_61c343cc61.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5094671329/">Snickerdoodle & BlingBling</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">So, I think Bling may have switched horses, even if she just started flute in June. On Saturday, we went to this:</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5094705189/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/5094705189_298d0f2b62.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5094705189/">Flags on parade</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">And we saw some of this...</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5095302756/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5095302756_7c4185b8b9.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/5095302756/">DSC_0241</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">.........which was cool, but she followed the drum majors more than the musicians. Which is just fine. I am just more than curious how this will unfold.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;">Anyhow, that's my excuse. And I'm stickin' to it. Life should get back to pretty dull here soon. Auditions will be over, uniforms have been fitted, ordered, arrived, and now its time for Halloween. In the meantime, its getting cooler and the warmer clothing must come out.  Its that crazy time of year.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"></div><br /></div><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-49344929861150994342010-08-15T13:43:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.243-07:00Hmmm I wonder...<p>After a whirlwind trip to California, to see my folks, visit with my brother & his wife, and hit Disneyland, I am feeling like I can't catch up. Granted, we came back home to the last two nights of VBS, the two messiest nights. It went smoothly, as there were less kids by then, but still....Ok so I'm complaining. :D</p><p>I guess I'm just ready for summer to be complete and the relative "normalcy" of the school year to begin. Not that this has been a bad summer, its just time. Time for projects, naps, shopping without kids, and hour that stays clean most of the day.</p><p>Today we went to the mall for a few school items. Clothes. My oldest daughter is a chip off the old block and hates trying on clothing as much as I do. She and I are starting the C25K again (For me, first time for her) tomorrow morning. I'm also starting Weight Watchers. Online. I don't need anymore outings. If I need the meetings I'll sign up for those and pay the fee. I'm about to ask my friend Alex to take me on a tour of her gym too. She offtered before my vacation, but I just wasn't there yet. While I feel ok, I can't stand pictures of myself and realizing that I"m still a young (relatively) woman who looks like THAT!</p><p>I also don't like that I've never gotten a real handle on this thing called body image and weight. I can raise three girls, take care of two cats and a dog, get dinner on the table, make sure everyone is where they need to be, but I can't get control of my weight? I can dispatch emergency vehicles, talk to panicked callers, but I can't control my weight? WTH!? I'm frustrated, can you hear it?</p><p>Ok so tomorrow. Tomorrow is my day. I'm gonna go find my sports bra.</p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-50403061153649067622010-07-24T06:42:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.230-07:00Is this not fantabulous?<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/67604797@N00/4477811168/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/4477811168_a9cc91309c.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/67604797@N00/4477811168/">house quilt top</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/67604797@N00/">crazymomquilts</a>.</span></div><p>Ok...this has two things going for it at least....<br /><br />First: its a quilt.<br />Second: its got houses on it!<br /><br />And now I want to make one. Sheesh....Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts is amazing. I've learned so much from her blog. You should visit, really.</p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-44955191012347762232010-07-23T07:50:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.218-07:00This is what memory loss looks like.<p><br /><a href="http://talesofthemiddleagedmommy.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f7f4a0a88330133f2810e1d970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Memory Loss" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54f7f4a0a88330133f2810e1d970b image-full " src="http://talesofthemiddleagedmommy.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f7f4a0a88330133f2810e1d970b-800wi" style="width: 509px; height: 725px;" title="Memory Loss" /></a> <br /> </p><p>And let me just tell you. I hate it. These are swaps. Completed swaps that I have had in my bag. Some since February. And...I found them in April apparently, because I put them all together.  Gosh, I have got to figure this out. I had NO IDEA they were there. I marked them out of my book as completed. Then completely spaced mailing them. My mojo has been kinda absent, so I didn't get into my totes at all. Ugh...sorry ladies. I'm glad most of you are so forgiving.</p><p>At any rate, my quilting group has been coming right along. We just finished my friend, Sue's prayer quilt. Sue had some cancer taken off her leg that had waited WAY too long, due to the extreme health concerns of her husband, who, (Praise God!) has a new heart machine and looks GREAT! I'm so thankful, as they are both inspirations in faith. Now we just got Sue better, but had already started her this quilt. It is made entirely from the stash in the quilting closet. I'm happy to report that some of this quilt makes me so happy. It was from my personal stash and about 15 years old. The back was a piece I got to make a spring dress from. :D</p><p><br /><a href="http://talesofthemiddleagedmommy.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f7f4a0a8833013485a59158970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Sues Quilt 2 July 2010" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54f7f4a0a8833013485a59158970c image-full " src="http://talesofthemiddleagedmommy.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f7f4a0a8833013485a59158970c-800wi" title="Sues Quilt 2 July 2010" /></a> </p><p>And this is the Busy Hands ladies. That's me, the pup. I like this group. They make me feel youthful. I need some color. :D</p><p><br /><a href="http://talesofthemiddleagedmommy.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f7f4a0a8833013485a59adb970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Sues Quilt July 2010" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54f7f4a0a8833013485a59adb970c image-full " src="http://talesofthemiddleagedmommy.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f7f4a0a8833013485a59adb970c-800wi" title="Sues Quilt July 2010" /></a> <br /> </p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-86980210214708183672010-07-13T13:27:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.208-07:00See this face?<p>This is the face of a killer. Right now, he is meowing mercilessly at me from the hallway.</p><p>But, he's in lockdown. You see, this face wants birds. And mice.</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4791492533/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4791492533_c392e279d0.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">And I do NOT want mice, or birds for that matter.I especially do not want them in the house. And I'm a little tired of rescuing them to Kleenex boxes.</span> <br /></span></p><p>Birdies, hear my words. Do not nest in the tree across the street. There is a killer about. He thinks you are better than balls with bells and sticks with strings. Yet, every year you persist. We try to help you out, but there is only so much we can do. And we are not the only killer owners. There are stray killers, and other outside killers. I'm not even certain that squirrels like you that much.</p><p><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"></span></p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></div><p></p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-51735675988855412672010-06-26T09:48:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.197-07:00A Day in Pictures, part two<p>And I'm back.</p><br /><br/><p>So after some serious Facebook poking, and getting angry with my tween, I'm back to share just a portion of what is going on today in La Casa Dawson.</p><br /><br/><p>Don't be jealous.</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736214687/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4736214687_58fa746d44.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736214687/"></a></span></div><p>I know. Its a thrill a minute.</p><p>See that towel on top? (yeah, I'm a little ADD, just go with it.) It was this beautiful aqua Nautica towel. I got it on sale or with a coupon or something because the color was just lovely. I got one and was gradually going to purchase more. I'm SO glad I did not. See the pukey color it is now!? I just washed it like I wash all my other (Costco) towels who still look nice, even in their tattered states. I am seriously consider going to all white towels. How easy it would be to just throw them all in with some bleach and come out looking great and spa-like.</p><p>Stay tuned. More white-knuckle house cleaning and maintenance to come!</p><p></p><p><a href="%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736214687/%22%20title=%22POD%20Towels%20062610%20by%20scrappysandi,%20on%20Flickr%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4736214687_58fa746d44.jpg%22%20width=%22500%22%20height=%22333%22%20alt=%22POD%20Towels%20062610%22%3E%3C/a%3E"></a> </p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-40127156951547955642010-06-26T05:44:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.186-07:00A Day in Pictures<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736211108/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4736211108_e2da383f6f.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736211108/"></a></span>Sooooo....yesterday was quite a day. It had some really nice fun moments, but then kinda went south.<br /></div><p><br />First, we just had the normal band practice. But it was at a different locations, a few minutes further away. Then we had to have something "animal print" to wear. I needed to make dinner. And I went on a small shopping trip with my friend. I got a great broomstick skirt for under $10, and a pair of white shoes for next year (for one of my girls) $5, and a Christmas gift (pair of boots, also girls) for $14! Score! And my friend, and fellow band mom, gave me a bag of outgrown clothing for my youngest. Score again! Snickerdoodle is thrilled, and wants to wear everything in one day.<br /><br />So....took kids to the pool, ran for quick stop for groceries, locked keys in the house on the return. Someone didn't put the spare back, and I was due to pick up kids at the pool. Hubs ran by, opened the garage door, I ran to get kids, came home, sewed headbands, let them snack/shower, and loaded up to the concert.<br /><br />After concert....dinner, and home. Home to find my fridge had been left open for four hours! UGH. What a day!<br /><br />So...if you are still reading, I wasn't really shocked to find today starting out with this little fellow. Louie decided to leave us a gift. He's so thoughtful.</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736211234/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4736211234_4f6c94c138.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736211234/"></a></span></div><p>As you can see, our visitor, Toby, is very curious. And excited about the camera. He barked at me a lot.</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4735574335/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4735574335_c302b3f532.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4735574335/"></a></span></div><p>I dunno why animal eyes always look like this. Crazy possessed aliens. But really they are just pets.</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736211550/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4736211550_dfb310f73c.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736211550/"></a></span></div><p>So, I stepped outside, on my errand to Home Depot. To this bit of loveliness. Sometimes, I think God just says, "Hey you! Smile!" So I did. </p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4735574625/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4735574625_c3f15805a1.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4735574625/"></a></span></div><p>Ok. finally at my destination. </p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736211792/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4736211792_06798b711f.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4736211792/"></a></span></div><p>And left with this. I got chalkboard paint, a spare piece of drywall for the the "board" part, paint for my dining room light fixture, river rocks for my garden, solar lights for my flower garden, bug bite stuff for camp, insect spray for my front door area, and Shout for my laundry stains. Now I need to get to work. And so do my girlies.</p><p>More of my truly exciting (to me, because I have no where to go!) day to come. I'm wearing my camera today!</p></div><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-83636061916751726522010-06-25T05:06:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.172-07:00I'm on a roll....a neckroll.<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4733599964/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1020/4733599964_45f7b1d489.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"></span>Ok, so I know that's not EXACTLY a neckroll. But it was as close as I could come, and frankly, I"m not comfy sewing circles on the ends of anything yet. I'll get there, because I really do want a neckroll. For my neck.</div></div><p><br />Anywhooooo....I made these mostly for an "I'm a poop" gift for my sister in law. You see, we've had a busy summer so far, and this week its coming to a head. Summer band is over TODAY, with a concert, and there have been extra practices and such, and the weather just got scorching, so there's been extra whining and swimming; for my sanity. My sanity is important. <br /><br />Throw into the middle of that, some birthdays. Well, I neglected to call one birthday girl, not realizing that it was extremely important to her to be called ON THE DAY. Now, I don't get that at all, but whatever. She was so upset, she did not act like a grown up, and to ME I don't really care, but to my 12 y/o, it matters immensely. So after a long talk about how grown ups should behave, we (I) decided to mend the fence by providing a gift. We never have exchanged gifts. She doesn't call me on my birthday, so...ya know its a quandry for me. But, I'm trying to keep the peace. So I sew.<br /><br />At any rate, this is another knock off of my last post. Thank you again, <a href="http://www.cluckclucksew.com" target="_blank">Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew</a>! And my friend Nej, who is a non-blogger, for the push. All fabric is Joann's ( I know, because I cut off the selvages for my selvage quilt stash!). I think next time I will piece the long pillow, to give it a contrasting stripe at the top and bottom, but in the interest of time, and my brain being in the Bahamas, I just went with what I could fathom. My girls picked this fabric assuring me that its the colors of my sister in law's bedroom, and that she likes girly things. I sure hope she likes them. If not, watch for them at Goodwill. (Seriously, would not offend me, SOMEONE will love them!)</p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-53764618657738053922010-06-21T13:53:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.156-07:00Look what I made today!<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4723135826/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/4723135826_871cb40cc0.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4723135826/"></a></span></p><p>Gosh, sometimes its just fun to be creative. I've been pondering this pillow for at least a month. Ask anyone who talks to me regularly. But as I made sewing discoveries, it got less and less intimidating, and I already had the felt. (See poodle skirts). Bling is so happy! :D</p></div><p><br />Luckily <a href="http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2008/09/petal-pillow-tutorial.html">this tutorial</a> at Cluck Cluck Sew, was the spark for me. And the directions are good. Just realize that when you are finishing the back side, you need to finish the long sides of the two short pieces, not the short sides. <br /><br />I made this pillow to match Bling's quilt. Now that I found the proper free motion foot for my machine, I've decided to practice up and do that on her quilt. I'm nervous, but I'll get it eventually. I made this pillow in about five hours; probably could have done it faster, but its summer and the monsters are about.<br /><br />Anyhow, happy creating! And...don't for get to jump in with both feet!</p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-9483397507478510132010-06-20T13:20:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.141-07:00Life reflections and sneezing.The allergy season. Its killing me. My daughter just said, "Mom, you don't look good." Yeah, after I just got up from an hour nap, I still don't look good? Not a good sign.<br /><br /><br /><br />I've slept fitfully for two nights. I don't know why I was so stressed out about making table decor for only three tables at the Father's Day Breakfast at church. I've done table decor. I've been to breakfasts at church. I know its low stress. But I had to stress...had to wow, I guess. But I wasn't wowed. I dreamed of lists, not my own. And of tire siping. Don't ask.<br /><br /><br /><br />It rained and I wanted to feel better and paint a chair, or some lamps. My husband let me off the hook for Father's Day dinner, since we have 87,000 leftovers and have gone to lunch with our Pastors' families and a wonderful speaker and his wife. We have leftovers from that too. So my mind drifted to paint, and making my home my own instead of just walls.<br /><br /><br /><br />What I find interesting is that when we moved in, we nested. We waiting for our baby to come by painting our walls a lovely moss green. I loved it. I had dreamed of a moss green and plum front room in my tiny apartment. And here, my new husband and soon to be father was making that come true. Then, we lived with that decision for twelve years. We got a new couch and new carpet, but the walls and general decor remained the same.<br /><br /><br /><br />Finally, my children do not need my every waking moment. Finally, they can get themselves a bowl of cereal, or one can even make macaroni and cheese, or brownies. They can all do homework while I work in the kitchen, and I, can finally have a complete thought. Most of the time.<br /><br /><br /><br />God had been good to me. Keeping me out of trouble and giving me the people in my life when I needed them most. I've always seen His hand in my life. I might not have been the most willing of his sheep, but He didn't give up.<br /><br /><br /><br />And now, twelve years into this new life of dishes, homework, laundry and shuttling I am able to bless my family by making their world, home, and life a little more pleasant. I envy those young women in some ways, their homes are clean; no stepping on legos or earrings in the night. No nightly wakings to tell you that their dad's snoring is too loud, when you've already moved to the couch for just such a reason. But they don't yet have what I do. I have heads on my shoulders during church, I have snugly nap times after church. I have budding musicians, artists and authors. And I want to make them all happy. Its time. Time to focus on this life with out the blur that was early motherhood.<br /><br /><br /><p><br />My poor hubs. He's not good with change. As are most of the men in my life. He won't like it when I do <a href="http://www.suburbanspunkdesign.com/2010/05/master-bedroom-details.html">this<br /></a></p><p>to our bedroom. Or when I take apart our daughters' beds while they are at camp. He won't like it when I use the air compressor, or call with questions. He's busy. I get it, and its change. No change for him, one year. I've already made him paint our great room wall red. What more could I want!? And I'm completely OK with change and transitional phases. Completely OK with lazy days of nothing, like today. He doesn't even want to me to paint this fifty year old rocking chair! (Won't it be great!?!?!)</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4718817729/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4718817729_f81a2e469b.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a> And it has started to thunder again, so my dreams of starting any of this today are yet again dashed. Dashed against the rocks of summer storms and sinus headaches. hehe...dramatic much? </p><p></p><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p></p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-15286961954489242322010-06-08T10:43:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.128-07:00Just another day in paradise....<p>Well, we've started. Started with our "fun" summer activities. Bean and Bling-Bling have started the summer band program in our area. Its for continuing musicians and prospective musicians that have completed the fourth grade. The older musicians can try out other instruments for one price, its a wonderful program that I hope doesn't get cut in all the budget cuts we are facing. This year, Bling-Bling is trying out the family tradition of flute. Bean, already a flautist, is in the Advanced and Intermediate bands (they need filler musicians in Intermediate), and is trying out the French Horn in Beginning Band. Its very pretty. I can't wait to see her perform on the 24th. Band is only a month long in the summer, so it moves fast. Bling is tickled and its soooo great to see her wanting to be involved in something that could fill her life more than clothes, shoes and hair. (Yeah, I'm not a proper girl.)</p><p>We haven't been able to go to the public pool because its been raining off and on for a few weeks. It will be warm enough soon and we will make good use of our Family Swim Pass. My girls are finally old enough, and responsible enough to each other to go on their own and I don't have to sit out there an fry like I have in years in the past. My age spots are not so happy with sun. I am really only comfortable at one of our area pools, because it has very little temptation to leave the pool area. Its not pretty to go outside, and all the good stuff is inside!</p><p>Today we started putting a few things in our "garden". Snickerdoodle started tomatoes and carrots (her favorite food ever) from seed, and we've been nurturing them into their own for a few weeks. Then we had a pounding rain storm for a week (um yeah, a tornado, but they say it isn't - so let's just say some mysterious force that resembled a lot of wind and rain ripped some 18 inch diameter trees from the ground, and tore someone's roof off), and end of school activities, and finally, they are in the ground. We are not big gardeners here, so this is our little garden area. We've composted this so it should be good and ready. I'm trying to get rid of the dog house, since our dog never uses it....but its proven to be a challenge. I so do not want to lose our efforts this year. We will be on vacation for one week (two weeks for us girls, one for the hubs) and last year, our tomatoes did not make it (but my dad had a stroke and he's much more loving than tomatoes!).</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4683600530/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4683600530_efed742744.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4683600530/"></a></span></div><div style="text-align: right; padding: 3px;"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4682969479/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4682969479_00331538d6.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a></p></div>Soon it will be time for camp and there are many projects to accomplish during that week! I hope to paint rooms and furniture while my husband slaves away at work, and all three of my girls go to camp! WOO HOO...MOMMY PARTY! :D Sad and no-life like....ya know?<p>I've been trying to watch blogs for ideas about how to decorate the area above my kitchen shelving. Since painting our walls a lovely red, our oak cabinets (ala 1989) aren't bothering me as badly, so I can live with them through another season (or kill off my husband by working him to death) until we can paint them and add some crown molding according to my evil plan of updating our home. You know how it is, you have babies, they consume your every waking moment until they get opinions and have quasi-lives, and then you have to entertain yourself. This is my way of entertaining myself. It used to be paper, because then I could buy it, take it home, and use it whenever I wanted (nap time), but now...now I can shop, or paint, or nap while the kids are off doing other things. Its GRAND!</p><p>This is what I found today at St. Vincent's Thrift Shop. I have about 87,000 projects waiting for paint now. But this tray, four bucks, waiting for vinyl. And the fabric, I think is vintage...soo soft, cute...$1. Wall hanger thingy, four bucks!  The pedestal, I have been looking, and looking...and looking for one, this one is soooo heavy/sturdy...four bucks! I'm stoked. I can't wait to fix her up!  I haven't shown you guys my bookshelves that my parents gifted us for Christmas, but she will be grand in there.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4682919645/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4682919645_5720842d1c.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a></p><p>So.....stand by, because tomorrow I will have the vinyl urge bad. I would have had it today, but my kids maters had to go in the ground. (Along with a hydrangea, african daisies and some other freeway daisy type stuff, and petunias.) So today, I will clean and fold laundry, eat hot dogs and wait for the rain tomorrow. :D</p><p></p><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4682919645/"></a><br /></span></div><p></p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-35508204688283132242010-06-04T03:46:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.113-07:00Its the most anticipated day of the year, next to Christmas.<p>Good morning <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">faithful</span> random reader!</p><p>Today is a mixture of pain and joy for most stay at home moms. (Unless you live in Meridian. tee hee) Last day of school. Particularly, interesting is how I feel about my sixth grader going to junior high next year. While, on one hand, I'm very excited for her; jr. high was the start of most things wonderful in my life, like <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">boys</span> music, and a social life, my baby is growing up way too fast. Technically, in three years she could take driver's education! That scares the living daylights out of me for the rest of the world. Tee hee. I'm sure I'll be melancholy about that stage too. Driving is a whole new independence.</p><p>At any rate, I had a bunch of teachers to make gifts for this year. She, and her sisters, had so many wonderful people in their lives, in addition to their regular homeroom teachers. Music teachers mostly, because that is our niche. I made FOUR of my seven gifts for music teachers.</p><p>Let me share with you yesterday's creative adventure:</p><p>Here is my inspiration: <a href="http://www.lemonademakinmama.com/2009/07/you-can-paint-chalkboard-on-anything.html" target="_blank" title="ooo aaaahhhhh">Cutie Patootie Canisters</a></p><p>I love this idea and hope I can get it to come out with a little more tweeking. </p><p>Let me just tell you right now that that cool chalkboard paint does not stick to glass. I was just hoping I guess, I should have known better. And, if you use your vinyl as a mask, it will peel right off along with it. UNLESS YOU PRIME FIRST. Please be kind, prime.</p><p>So here's what I ended up with instead!</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4668844743/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/4668844743_fa3bb03eba.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a></p><p>And here is a close up of the lids...</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4669470060/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4669470060_91a063b523.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a></p><p>I purchased these at our local Fred Meyer, and I had been eye-balling them for this idea for months. So to my surprise, I went in, and they were on CLEARANCE! SCORE!!! </p><p>The tag says: "As a teacher, you TOWER above the rest", and I used a stamp I've had forever and a day, and I love it. Cut the tags with my Silhouette die cutter. :D</p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4669470322/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4669470322_becb54e3ee.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a></p><p> And with that, I wish every mommy a happy last day of school, homework, and report cards, at least for 2.5 months. And if yours has not yet happened...HANG IN THERE! XOXOXOX</p><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4669470322/"></a><br /></span></div><p></p><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p></p><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div><p></p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-88970405388984019852010-06-02T06:34:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.101-07:00I like making crazy stuff.<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4457785604/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4457785604_c971d8f1c2.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4457785604/">Cat applique</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/scrappysandi/">scrappysandi</a>.</span></div><p>hehe....this is old, but I'm feeling "odd" today. It was inspired by that SU stamp set over there on the right, and it went on a poodle skirt.</p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-33284186758792864072010-05-31T13:28:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.088-07:00....I must luv punishment! :D<p>Ok so, I have no pictures for you, dear .33 reader(s), only tales of my growing frustration.</p><br /><br/><p>As much as I like dragging my little White 1740 machine to quilting group, because its light, I'm COMPLETELY frustrated with its intolerance of my free motion foot and feed dog cover. The tension is all wonky now. Its been great for regular sewing and piecing. I won't get rid of the thing, but I'm dying for my husband to help me uncover my 1970's-80's Kenmore I got from my parents. Unfortunately, I ditched my sewing for other hobbies <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">boys</span> and never learned anything about my machine, other than to sew a few pillows for my Barbies. I must have been about 10-12, based on the playing with Barbies....that would make it a 1970's machine.</p><p>I'm so tense now my eye is twitching.</p><p><a href="http://quiltersreview.com/article.asp?article=/review/product/040315_a.asp" title="White 1740">This</a> is the machine I'm trying to use. It has a super small throat, and there is a definite need for quilting gloves. I can see how you can only do this for a short time....and with a better chair.</p><p>So now I'm on the hunt for a solution to my tension problem, thread barf is not pretty, and when it does work its completely wonky and loose on the back side.</p><p>Is it <a href="http://quiltersreview.com/article.asp?article=/tip/expert/010319_a.asp">this?</a>  Or is this machine just not built for what I'm doing. Its only doll quilts. I am SO glad I didn't practice on anything important!</p><p>I guess I'll just practice putting on bindings on my poorly quilted doll quilts. Good thing dolls don't mind! </p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956889485976313912.post-79952631300838714192010-05-29T00:28:00.000-06:002010-12-27T13:07:07.076-07:00Its 6 a.m.<p>....and I'm up, after a long night of 12 y/o girl sleepovers. My hubs is snoring, so I had to get up. I could not get him to roll over. So I snuck out into the "sleeping area" and made a cup of coffee. Soon I will have to start breakfast for the hungry mob, so I need my joe.</p><br /><br/><p>Already my mind is on finishing projects. But in all honesty, I need to clean my bedroom. The rest of the house has been polished and shined for company, but its our bedroom that suffers. Specifically our closet.Ick. So when the birthday girl recovers from her party, she can help with the mess (ah, a lesson in the making about why we don't have parties more often), and I can purge my closet. Its supposed to rain, and if I get done....I might play with fabric!</p><br /><br/><p>I've already pieced BlingBling's top, as mentioned in my last  post. So I wanted to share this with my .33 readers. :D</p><br /><br/><p></p><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4635661021/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/4635661021_e0a8ebdf8d.jpg" style="border: 2px solid #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappysandi/4635661021/"></a></span><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"></span><p></p><p>And there she is. My planning wasn't so fabo. But I kind of like it that way. Is that weird? This is an almost twin sized quilt, for the top bunk of a bunk bed. Now I'm debating appliqueing a bright colored flower on top. Lime? Red? Hot pink? I just think it needs something. but maybe a  patterned or stripped binding would do the trick on its own. Who knows. I really love this patten. </p><p><br />So if you have any luck in your pockets...wish that I have a productive day with no fighting between siblings who haven't slept enough...:D </p><p></p></div><p></p><br /><br/>Sandi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15294485349159012397noreply@blogger.com0