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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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)!

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!

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.