This weekend we did lots of..... Paddle boat rides on the lake. Guess what? this is my back yard, yeah I cant believe it either~!

some Dressmaking

with fun vintage lace detailing on the slip

I cant wait to where it.

Some knitting and dreaming under a big oak tree

and just enjoying the view of the calming and peaceful lake on Monday afternoon.

Hope your weekend was wonderful too.

Something to Work on, Something to Dream About

In between working in the yard and working on the Layette that is taking forever!! I will be making time to put together this dress, and ... Dreaming about the sweater that I am looking forward to making from this book that I received yesterday so excited to get started on this one!

Have a great, Long Weekend!

Ballet Dude Strikes Again

Yup, there he is in his second year of dance and he did great! I am so Proud of him. Shayne is one of the most graceful guys on the stage I am always so excited to watch him perform and this year he performed six different routines. with 3 different shows, 2 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday.

Saturday nights Performance started off with their traditional " Father Daughter" dance for the seniors. Because most of the dancers are girls they have their father do one last dance with them, but since Shayne needed a partner for the routine I was asked to do my part and dance this one with him . If you know anything about me you would know that this is NOT something that I would do without serious hesitation ( I don't even like getting up on an air plain to use the bathroom and I do just about anything to avoid these situations) but I got to thinking and thought that I would regret not doing this for him. Sometimes you just need to do something that scares the piss out of you Right? and so I did

and there we are doing our Mother Son dance I was so glad when the whole thing was over. Did I dance like a star, you ask? NO! but I got an A for effort.... I did it!

This is Shayne in one of his other performances I hope to get the CD of the whole thing so that I can share it with my family in California These are truly the times that I miss not living closer to my family. Its just not fair that they don't get to be apart of things like this.

Shayne in his Jazz number. This was a really fun one to watch

And finally another ballet number. I am glowing with pride!!!

I am looking forward to yet another year of watching him dance.

Thanks for letting me share with you.

Lately...

OK so they are not Slipcovers but I still love them! Last week I received this pattern in the mail and have been working on it for a couple of days now. The first top that I put together was way too big on me even though I measured myself and went according to the size the pattern said that I was 8-10 ( I did not like this! ) so my original top was a flop!!! no picture sorry. I tried to take it apart but since I surged all the seams there was no rescue for it so this is my second try at the pattern. this one I cut to size 6 and it worked. and while I like it much better the bodice seems a bit too long. Hence my third go at the pattern and I like it much better, I even wore it last night when I finished with it.

I shortened up the bodice by about an inch and like it much better

and the best part is that this fabric was a steal. My Walmart is doing away with their fabric section :( all fabric was 50% off and while this pattern calls for 2 yards for the top and 3 for the dress there was only 1 yard and 10 " of this fabric left (the only one I liked) and yes I squeaked it out!!! so for a mere 1.57 I have a fun summer top.

This is a pattern that I will keep handy. its a super fast stitch! once I figured out the measurements it only took me about an hour and a half to put it together. I am looking forward to making the dress next!

Things I'm Lovin Right Now

Things that I am lovin right now: My Daughter's growing belly (Notice how I always seem to catch her in the Kitchen for for photo shoots, hummm :) New spray Starch alternative It works great, with no flaky stuff on fabric and the best thing is no nasty build up on the ol iron! I love this stuff! I found it at Hancock fabrics

My new walking foot that I purchased at my sewing machine repair shop. Luckily they had a slightly used one for 70.00 other wise they run about 140.00 for my machine yikes!!!!

My new patorn and fabric for a summer top and dress I cant wait to get it put together!

New fabric for my living room pillows ect for the summer

And finally a new cookie recipe for the Ultimate Ginger Cookie that I had to try after watching "The Barefoot Contessa" aka Ina Garten make them. They are Sooooo good. Here is a link to the recipe I have made it twice now, both with and with out the crystallized ginger and I cant really tell the difference, so if for some reason you cannot find it make them with out. You will love them if you are a molasses and spice lover.

these are the things that I am lovin right now. what are you lovin right now?

Finally!!

I finally got it finished and yes I'm pretty happy with it, although its not a true "Surface" sweater ( I just couldn't figure out that darn blister pattern) I substituted a double moss stitch and really love the look! I am looking forward to making another one of these with a few more alterations to the pattern but for now I'm just happy to say that I'm done with it. I learned a lot doing this one.

Also thank you to Katie over at philigry for her help and encouragement. Take a moment and stop over at her Blog she is having a great give away!!

OK no more pictures of the sweater I promise.

Thanks for stopping Have a great rest of the week.

A Couple of Things for The Hog Shed

In preparation for the up coming sale at The Hog Shed I was happy to get back out into the shop! especially since my dear friend Deanna sent me these great stencils that I re-created into pillows ( yes, I totally stole her idea but she said it was OK! ) anyhow I love how they turned out and hope to be making more soon. and then on to a fun and springy slipcover My mission was to find some fun fabrics with green and oranges but this caught my eye, so I had to get it. Cant you just see this in an English cottage.

I guess I'm just a cottage girl at heart.

oh yeah and the back is.... well you know, fun too!!

Looking forward to some more fun ideas that Ive been cookin up in the ol brain for next month and will be posting some pics of my latest knitting project too, I'm almost done, just need to get some buttons!!

Back to my Growing family!!

I'm back from my vacation and so happy to come home to a growing and happy family! Amber is getting so big and we just found out is going to be a BOY!! we are so excited

And yes my vacation was wonderful I was able to spend lots of time with family both in town and at the desert and I have to say everything was so beautiful I have never seen the desert "in bloom" before, It was stunning I couldn't get over how much color there was.

these plants where everywhere

and yes they are huge! That's Mom Standing in front of one

and look at what else mom and I found out on one of our little road trips.

The color was stunningly pink and beautiful !

and one more that was a real fun to look at " I should have done a close up of the one "

More pictures later but for now its good to be Home!

Vacation

Off to Southern California to see these people- My Family : ) and to do some of this !!!

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Ok ok I'll be working on big brothers new pad too.... See you in two weeks!!

Amazing Grace !

Just amazing!! Loved this that my Mom sent me this morning this is the song that my Sister-in-Law sang at my Dads funeral I've always loved it. Its worth a listen.