Saturday, October 30, 2010

Shocking but true...


$3.00.
$5.00

This picture is after I washed (felted) that skirt.
I only had to make one cut
to make a simple pillow.
What a great find with that fringe!
I have been inspired by some felt pillows
I've seen recently at a couple of stores.
(but they were massed produced and not near as cute).
I first wanted to have a silhouette of a Halloween scene
but I thought that was too much work.
Martha Stewart has a template of creepy mice
that I downloaded and traced on freezer paper
and then I ironed them onto the black felted sweater.
(Davis brought home that silly pumpkin cup
and candy from school).
I really like those creepy mice!
I hand stitched them on to
the pre-pillow.
I only machine sewed the top of the pillow
and kept the sides of the skirt.
I hand stitched the bottom to close the pillow.
Viola!
I'm SOOOO excited how it turned out!


I have a confession:
for the last few years I haven't
decorated much for Halloween.
Years ago I didn't decorate much either
but now it's to a dismal level.
I feel almost anti-Utahn or anti-Mormon
for not being so into Halloween
(which is silly!
I'm quite in love with Utah
and I really am a Mormon girl)!

I have my reasons:

1. Where I live they only have trunk-or-treat.

2. I have never had many Halloween decorations
and I couldn't ever see spending much
money on decorations
(I have some pretty lame decorations in storage).
Although I have seen some cute 
ones recently and was very tempted.
I decorated more when the kids were young
(I would put up their homemade Halloween decorations,
which I loved).
Maybe when grand kids start getting older 
I will get bitten by the decorating for Halloween bug.
It could happen
(or then again, maybe not).

3. I don't like Halloween much.
I'm not anti-Halloween.
I understand the fun that can be had
with celebrating Halloween 
in a just-for-fun sort of way.
I think I just realized that it's because the kids 
have grown up so much.
They were the fun
in Halloween for me.

4. You have to clean up after you decorate for Halloween
and I figured out,
so brilliantly, 
I might add,
that if you don't put much out
 you don't have much to put away!

No matter.
That pillow is dang cute!
And if I get around to it today
I want to make a skeleton purse.
But, then that will make two things I have to put away.



Friday, October 29, 2010

Flowers and birthdays!

I made some flowers!
I also made the patterns!
Well. 
With help from flower punches
(I bought the punch
and traced the paper flower)
and the guy at the print shop
(who was amazing 
and made the patterns on the computer
and only charged me $.77 for the copies.
JMart Printing in Spanish Fork!
Go! They are very good!)

This is my favorite!
It reminds me of a Chrysanthemum.
Which, by the way, was a favorite children's book of ours.

Happy Birthday today
to my "little" sister Melissa!
I hope you have a spectacular day!

Monday was my amazing
Mother-in-law's birthday!

The 14th was one of my "older"
sister's birthday too!

A cute and grown up niece was on the 4th.

Another adorable niece on the 26th.

My dear son-in-law's on the 9th.

Right in the middle of those.
10-20-2010
(how cool is that!)
Little Rian 
was born. 

Who shares a birthday with
a cute teenage nephew!

A pretty great month to have a birthday!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Oh, those Autumn days...







These photos were from two weeks ago.
Sigh. 
Where did Autumn go?
Snow yesterday and today!
I had so much fun today 
going to stores and a printing shop.
Making patterns for flowers.
Buying vintage fabric
for burp cloths
or whatever else I want 
to try to make.
I also bought a few used 100% wool 
(and one used 100% cashmere) sweaters
and one used 100% wool orange skirt
($3 to $5 each!).
I want to make flowers, 
a Halloween pillow,
a skull purse 
and other fun stuff.
I got to go to lunch with Britni!
I picked up Davis from his friends house.
Listened to Sheyla's music.
Laundry. Dishes.
Waffles.
Talked with Chris a bit while he
did three big loads of laundry
(oh, he is so tired with that cute new baby).
Hung out with Jeff 
while he elevates his foot
and falls asleep quickly
(so much energy
needed to heal).
The three of us read together tonight
--not without drama--
(we just finished the B of M
yesterday)!
I just finished my third flower!
So much I want to do
and so much I need to do!
 Where DOES the time go!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

She got to go home yesterday!

First time that this new Grandpa 
got to hold this new baby girl.
This new uncle was a little afraid
of holding this new tiny baby.
But look at how happy it made him!

Their cute nephew was visiting too.

She's not afraid of telling it like it is.
She's a feisty little thing.
And I'm so glad!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Little Miss Sunshine...

A new bow.

A cute outfit and a pose.


Amanda and Chris are so good with her.
She is a good little eater.
She may go home tomorrow!
She was holding on for dear life.
So sweet.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Little Baby Rian.

This photo is from Wednesday night.
Mama went home today 
but without the baby.
Parents are heartbroken 
to leave the baby.
Parents finally got to hold Rian last night and today!
Rian started breastfeeding last night
and is a champ.
I went with her sweet parents to the hospital today.
I got to hold her today!
What a treat and a gift!
My heart melted
and grew three sizes!
 I didn't bring my camera.
So, you got to just trust me on this.
She has such big eyes
and she is so alert!


Now a break for our sponsers...




Which is me!
Jeff got me a new camera 
and I am just learning.
It's much harder than it looks.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Snuggle, Nestle or Bundle. Anyway you call it: Dang, that's cute.


Snug as a bug in a rug
(well, really, blankets
and an incubator).

A few more.




These are from last evening
especially for a young mama
that yearns to hold 
her sweet little baby.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Little Miss Sunshine...



Little baby Rian is in the NICU.
She is looking pretty good.
She had a rough start and 
they are watching her closely.
Mommy and Daddy haven't even held her yet.
They should be able to hold her tomorrow.
Carefully.
The baby holds onto their fingers.
They gently place their hands on her.
They quietly whisper to her
from each side of the bed
and then she is happy.

Welcome to the World, Little One!







Little baby Rian Mckenzy
was born into this world
at 6:47!

Our brave and courageous daughter-in-law
endured a long, difficult and painful labor;
with the stamina and endurance of a marathon runner,
the courage and strength of a mighty warrior 
and the heart and soul of a noble and loving mother
to bring forth sweet Rian 
into this wonderful world.

Little Rian is fighting her own fight
in the NICU.
She is doing remarkably well
(she has the tenacity of her mother)
and is expected to make a quick and full recovery.

Mom, Dad and Baby
did a beautiful and miraculous job!

It was an honor to witness.

She is beautiful, bright eyed
and has to be the most 
wonderful grandchild ever born
on the face of the whole entire planet
(so far)!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Family tree.

Isn't Martha Stewart fabulous!
I like her more since she 
went to jail.
She seems more down to earth
and 
she laughs more.
Well, that's what it seems like to me
(since I only see her on tv).
She handled the situation
with such grace and charm.
She bragged about how clean
the place (meaning the prison) was
  when she left.
Love that.
She is crazy talented.
I happen to subscribe 
to her magazine,
"Living".
Love it.
I LOVE this family tree
and I may just make it.

Due date

These two cute kids 
are about to be parents!
Little baby girl Rian
is due today!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Shelves


I took pictures of my shelves.
1. I'm starting to forget why.
2. It had something to do with showing
family pictures
and the reason 
I went for simple 
in the rest of the area.
That's a lot of shelves!

It all doesn't matter because
when I was taking the pictures
little Frodo was on this chair
and during the time I was taking pictures
he would look above the chair
then he would look at me to the side of the chair.
It was hillarious 
and it happened 
over and over and over.
My camera is not fast enough
to get a picture
each time.
Trust me.
It was funny
and oh so cute.
They both like to hang out with me
and get in on the action.
Silly.