I can't find the USB cord...

I've got so many new projects and fun stuff I want to share!

buuuut

I can't find my little cord that's kind of important for getting the pictures

from the camera to the computer.

(It's in a box somewhere- oh, and WE MOVED! <---- fun new thing!)

And I really don't think you'd want to hear about my new stuff,

which probably isn't all that interesting to you,

without a few explanatory pictures.

Am I right?

So, instead of uploading and editing new pictures, I've been going through all the

pictures from the summer.

We had a LOT of fun this summer, and since it's almost over (sniff) I'm feeling the need to document...

And it just so happens that BOTH girls are sleeping right now which means I get to write!

I seriously don't even know where to begin... so I guess I'll start with these:

Why not, right?

We've had some amazing sunset cruises on the lake this summer.

Ah. mazing.

Thanks Captain Dave! (aka Duffman) and Roxy.

Roxy has her own life jacket.

She does.

Not even kidding.

See?

And this is how Roxy measures fun:

She's always down for a good time...

Lake Fun, of course, serves as a prequel to the sunset cruises.

Willow's first tube ride with LaLa.

And so does good food and family.

Willow's version of good food.

Papa Frank, or as Willow likes to call him, "Frankie!"

***

And then of course, there was 4th of July:

Have I ever mentioned before that I LOVE fireworks?

Like, LOVE them. So much.

I wanted them at our wedding.

They cost a lot.

We didn't have them...

I could watch fireworks every day of the year.

Especially the really big ones that you feel in your chest.

The 'Big Boomers'.

Those are the best.

And, if you happen to live in Michigan,

the only- and I mean only- way

to see fireworks is

from a boat.

Preferably a really big boat so that if it's too far out into the river and the

Coast Guard makes you move it

and then it doesn't get anchored properly and starts swinging every which way compromising all the other boats

in the immediate vicinity,

they have to move out of your way, not the other way around.

You know, if that sort of thing were to ever happen.

This boat had a live band on the back rockin' out a dance party. It's what some people like to call 'awesome'.

Sometimes I look around and say, "Really?"

We are some lucky, lucky people...

And if you have friends that are more like family

and invite you to their shindig year after year, where they all fight each other to hold your babies,

you pretty much have it made.

I would know.

Especially when they love your kids and treat them to a mani-pedi complete with snacks and a drink as soon as we arrive.

And what 4th of July is complete without sparklers?

Or grown men doing stupid things involving sparklers in front of small children?

I mean, that's what really makes it a holiday, right?

Basically, I don't want summer to end.

They're just not long enough in Michigan.

Maybe all the gorgeous lakes and pretty sunsets and boat rides are a trade-off for the

few months of warm weather.

Maybe.

Or maybe the trade-off is capturing this face on camera.

Either way, I'm going to be so sad to see Summer go.

Really, very sad.

***

Now for some sewing news, I've been busy.

My two latest nursery sets:

Can you spot the differences?

I am very serious about making my things one-of-a-kind.

But I'm learning that the

more and more the word gets out and the more people I make things for,

the whole 'one-of-a-kind' thing

gets harder and harder.

Remember this nursery set?

Well, ever since then I've had lots of mommas wanting one

(which is awesome!)

To keep to my promise of only making one-of-a-kind bedding,

I've been making little changes here and there on each set.

I want the overall look that people are

originally drawn to

to be the same, while still making sure everything is

original.

So far, so good.

Patchwork is almost always one-of-a-kind,

but I still like to

switch up the quilt backs and bindings

to set them apart from each other just that much more.

So thanks to everybody out there who keeps my little tiny business going...

I love what I do!

I think that's all I have for today...

Four score and seven years ago...

I'm just kidding.

It was four years ago.

Not four score and seven years ago...

Four years ago I married my hunky husband.

Sure did.

I would have never guessed on that day that 4 years later I would be

a momma

to two beautiful little girls...

amazing.

Thanks to this guy:

I love him. Sure do.

Sometimes, it honestly feels like we've been

together

as far back as I can remember.

And then other times I can't believe that

4 years

managed to fly by so quickly.

It makes me want to savor every single little moment we share together...

Life is a crazy thing, I tell ya...

I always smile whenever I look back through our wedding pictures.

It was such a good day.

Not just a good day, but a goood day.

The kind of good that requires extra 'o's and italics and bold print.

And I will never say it was the best day.

Why?

Because that would be sad.

If the 'best' day of your life is the day you get married, you're totally missing the point.

Because if you do it right, every single day

-from that point forward-

is better than the last.

I should know.

I've have 4 whole years of better-than-yesterdays.

Expecting Baby #1

Hello Baby #1!

And if I said we didn't have some

ups and downs and twists and turns,

you would call me a liar because it would be a line of BS.

So I won't say it.

Because you'd be right.

I'd be a liar and it would be a total line of BS.

But I wouldn't change a thing.

Because it's the ups and downs- and how you handle them- that make you stronger.

And it's good to know that I'll always have my best friend right there with me.

No matter what.

Expecting Baby #2

Hello Baby #2!

I can't wait to see what the next 4 years has to offer.

And then the 4 after that, and the four after that....

Happy Anniversary to US!!

I had too many fitting titles for this post... so this is what you get. Sorry.

I have been working on some pretty fantastic things over here.

You know, other than raising two strong, independent, talented, intelligent, and kind girls.

Or, at least, trying.

I just crack myself up.

I don't know why. That's not even funny.

Maybe I need some adult interaction or something.

My brain's doing weird things.

I love this quilt.

I didn't really want to send it away to its owner.

That's how much I liked it.

ALOT.

I used the

Sexy Hexy "Love" Quilt

pattern from Amy Butler and then modified it a bit.

And I obviously didn't use any of the "Love" prints, although

they are all Amy Butler.

Lots of her older stuff, which I like.

And many of the prints were super hard to find because lots are

discontinued and whatnot.

The Sexy Hexy pattern is for a full/lapish size quilt, but I needed a Queen.

So, instead of just making more hexagons to make a bigger quilt,

(which was my first plan)

I thought that framing in the 'original' quilt pattern would showcase it better.

And I really like it.

So there's the hexagon part,

and then a grey border,

and then a pieced border of all the pretty prints,

and then another grey border.

I pieced together the back, too.

I wasn't a fan of the quilt back from the pattern.

It was kind of boring.

So, pieced backing it is.

And I added a blank label in one of the corners so they could

fill it in

with something perfect.

It looks nice on a bed, right?

(It's the wrong size bed... but whatever.)

Oh, and the matching shams.

I also happen to love those shams.

I think I'm going to make similar shams for my own room.

Shams. Shams. Shams.

And there was some hand-quilting involved in this puppy.

Yup, sure was.

I loved it so much, I added some stitches.

I think the yellow added some extra sunshine to the grey border.

And then I also hand-quilted inside the center of each hexagon.

(I machine-quilted the rest...)

Bye quilt!

Have fun in your new home :)

Funny story about this quilt.

I actually made it for an old friend that I knew pretty well when I was little.

We went to summer camp together and everything.

We grew up/moved apart/lost touch for years and then found each other again on facebook.

Good ol' facebook.

She and her hubby needed some bedding for their new house

(which is supercute, by the way, I know because I facebook stalked...duh.)

and thought of me.

We talked fabrics and ideas and then several* weeks later they got a quilt.

*I say several because I was on schedule until

I completely quilted the whole thing,

went to bind it,

hated the quilting,

ripped it all out,

and

re-quilted it (much better),

which pushed my deadline back quite a bit.

Thank you Heidi and Brian for being so patient.

It looks way better :)

***

And just look at these two:

Willow is so sweet to her little sister

when I'm in her immediate vicinity threatening everything that she holds dear.

So sweet.

Sidenote: Willow just came in and told me she really doesn't like brains.

I mean, what's not to love about this little critter?

She's the happiest baby on the planet.

Really.

I'm convinced of it.

If there was a contest for "Happiest Baby on Earth", Ellie would win.

Hands down.

***

And now I'm going to tell all of you to go buy Chalkboard spray paint.

They have it at Home Depot.

(every single time I say 'Home Depot' I think of Old School, anybody else?)

So anyway, this stuff is amazing.

I turned my 'stupid glass cabinet full of stuff nobody wants or needs to see'

into a fun little chalkboard.

See?

But be careful.

It's addicting.

Because now I have a whole list of things that I want to paint that really have

no business

being a chalkboard.

Adios!

Peace and Mustaches.

I'd like to introduce you to our newest obsession:

The Mustache on a Stick

As you can see, they are quite hilarious.

They are also ridiculously easy to make and supersuper cheap.

Like I-made-fifty-for-three-bucks cheap.

Yeah, I told you.

Why would one ever need to make 50 mustaches on sticks, you say?

Well, because when this little almost-three year old was asked what she would like to give out as favors for her birthday party,

she answered quite confidently with

"Mustaches."

I mean, obviously.

What was I thinking?

Every little girl I know of wants to give people mustaches as party favors.

Duh.

As weird of a request as it was, my only option as a good momma was to oblige this sweet girl.

Yes, Willow gave herself an atrocious haircut. All her beautiful curls are gone. My husband has been calling her Travis...

And I'm SO glad I did.

She knows what she's talking about.

These things are awesome.

It makes the perfect accessory, no?

I highly suggest you make some.

Tonight.

They are fun for the whole family.

And when you do make them, I want pictures.

Seriously.

Send me mustache pictures.

Here's what you need:

Black felt

(I bought 1/4 yd of 72" wide felt at JoAnn's for $1.40

and I could probably make 50 more from my leftover felt)

Scissors

Hot glue gun

Wooden sticks

(I found these in the wooden craft section at JoAnn's for .99 a package)

Here's what you do:

Start cutting out some 'staches!

To make sure mine were even, I cut out a rectangle of felt, folded it in half, and cut one 'side' of the mustache.

Then just unfold to see the real deal.

Make a bunch of different kinds if you feel so inclined.

After all the mustaches are cut out and your glue gun is warmed up,

place a little dab of hot glue halfway between the middle and the edge of the mustache.

(So the stick is not right in front of your mouth when you hold up the 'stache)

Plop down your wooden stick.

There you go.

You now have a mustache on a stick.

Get crazy.

If you're doing it right, chances are your baby will look at you like this:

In other birthday party preparation news, here's Willow's party crown.

I have to say, I am in love with it.

I want one.

And that says 'Sassy', not 'Assy'... that wouldn't be very appropriate for a 3 year-old.

This was also super easy to make.

I was inspired by these crowns.

Believe it or not, I just dug into my stash of scrapbook paper and doodads.

And then I stuck a few fake flowers, buttons and some pretty sweet butterflies I found at Target on it.

This girl deserves a crown:

Ok, that's about all.

I'll show you how to make the Happy Birthday banner next.

I have to go wrap presents and stuff.

And clean.

Yeah, I should probably clean or do the laundry or something.

In the meantime, Peace and Mustaches.

:{)