Almost December

Where has the time gone? If feels like it was just summertime, sitting outside trying to find things to do that involved sewing. Now I am crunched for time in finishing my Christmas gifts. I have a list of 16 things that need to be sewn and I can't seem to find a free minute to do any of it. I keep telling Nick I am starting my Christmas sewing in January. I really wanted to make everything this year, but I caved and went shopping.

I went out today, which wasn't too bad. I thought with all the Friday and Saturday sales it would have been busier, but the only busy part was the parking lots. I got all the shopping done, except for Nick, which I don't know what I really want to get him yet. I will probably know on Christmas Eve.

I know that Christy, my current swap partner has come up with some great ideas to make stuff for my family. I hope that I don't try and hoard everything for myself. If I am really lucky I will even be able to take some stuff back to the store and more people will get that handmade Christmas. I finished all my stuff for her yesterday and I am very proud of this package. I chose not to put anything store bought in it, so it took a lot more to fill the box. I didn't think I would like some of the stuff, but after all said and done, I wish I had more fabric to make some for me. As soon as she receives, I will post pictures. She should be getting it on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I need to get to bed soon, I have a busy day tomorrow. I am going out with a bunch of ladies from work to watch Australia. Then to my mom's house for a late Thanksgiving with her. So, I Sew.

Only one more day

So Twilight the movie opens tomorrow. I am really excited to see how it is portrayed. I can't go in with great expectations, because I don't want to be disappointed. I wasn't going to go the movie this weekend, but Stephanie invited me, so it should be fun. I didn't want to go because I work with 40 6th grade girls who are thinking they are going to get married to Edward or Jacob. It is all I hear about all day long. I don't want to be in the theater with all these unrealistic fantasizers. We are going late so it shouldn't be too bad.

I have set aside the whole weekend for sewing. I won't be doing anything else. I have to finish the swap stuff this weekend, and I want to get at least two of my Christmas gifts done. I will update with pics later. So, I sew.

Likes and Dislikes

Things I Can Never Get Enough Of:

• Aprons - I prefer full size, but half are ok as well
• Grocery bags of all sizes
• Produce bags
• Pajamas - small-medium size
• Lunch bags
• Purses - messenger and designer knock offs
• Book covers
• Journals
• Notebook covers
• Portfolio - to hold a 9x12 note pad
• Embroidered Kitchen Towels

Various Things About Me:

• I'm a girly girl, but I don't have the budget to go full out
• I am a hiker/backpacker
• I would rather make it than buy it
• I try to be as green as possible
• I love to craft for my family - there are far too many people to buy for
• I love youth fiction (not too young, 5th grade and above)
• I work at an elementary school as a 1 on 1 shadow
• My husband is a part time assistant wrestling coach and I am the team manager
• I love to cook
• I am very organized - everything has its perfect place

Favorites:

• Color - pink, purple, blue, green, and cream
• Fabrics - flannel, printed cottons, novelties, and decor
• Big floral prints
• Retro prints
• Manatees

Dislikes:

• Goth inspired
• Neon - except if paired with black, but still no yellows or oranges

Never Have Enough Of:

• Quilting Cottons
• Buttons
• Thread
• Sewing Machine needles
• Ribbon
• Trims
• Lace
• Elastic
• Specialty Yarn - not novelty

Crafts I would like to Learn: 

• Stenciling - T-shirts, glass, fabric (I have dabbled, but I would like to learn more)
• Screen Printing (I would love to have my own kit)
• Embroidering
• Flower arranging

About My Family (the people I craft for):

• Nick - (age 24, husband) Environment Biologist. He loves Star Wars and Spiderman
• Debra - (Mom) Loves bags and purses. She is also very crafty, but doesn't have the time. She collects anything you give her. She loves vibrant prints, and natural colors.
• Persephone - (age 1, niece) A little princess, pink and dresses are a must. She needs easy to grow in clothes.
• Maribell - (age 2, niece)Our little all smiles, tomboy. She is always wearing a dress, but would rather be playing in  the dirt. Her nickname is ladybug, and we always give her things that relate.
• Kelahna - (age 3, niece) A girly princess. She is small for her age (2T). Loves art, drawing and cooking. Her favorite thing right now is Elmo.
• Billy - (age 4, nephew) Always on the move, watch out because he is sneaky. He loves cartoons and video games.
• Balin - (age 5, nephew) The tough little boy. Loves tie-dye anything. He loves to try and get away with everything (and so cute he usually does get away with it). Loves trucks and super heroes, and Star Wars.
• Timmy - (age 9, nephew) Loves comic books and everything that goes with that. He is a great wrestler. Enjoys being outside exploring.
• Ariel - (age 9, niece) Half girl, half tomboy. Always catch her with paper and pencil drawing something. She has quite the collection of purses too. She has to keep up with all the boy cousins and does a good job at it too.
• Tristram - (age 10, nephew) He is a very smart child. Always reading or playing the piano. He loves sports, especially soccer, but baseball and now wrestling are favorites too.
• Zachary - (age 11, nephew) The helper, even when you least expect it, he is there to help out. He is also a wrestler.
• I also craft for other family, but anything goes for them. Anything I might like, they might like.

Finally

I finally got the Scrabble pics uploaded to my computer so I can post them now.

I know it has been a little while so here is a refresher about them. I made them for a friend who saw them online at some European boutique for $30+ each. He saw my crafting ability and asked me to make them for him. I gladly did it for half the cost. They are slipcovers over some 16x16 pillows that I freezer paper stenciled. I really like how they turned out. If I knew that Amy would like them I would make one for her, but she wouldn't have a place in her house to put it.

On to current events. This weekend I made some more freezer meals with my mom. We ended up make close to 50 meals, for the mere cost of $250. If we went to the Dinners Done Right place it would have cost $200 for 12 meals. It took us about 5 hours to make all that food, which isn't that bad considering it takes about 30 minutes per meal if we were to make them on each day. Nick and I are very prepared for the next couple months of wrestling season, which starts today. So, I sew.

All Settled

We moved last weekend and now we are all settled in. The new house is in Lacey, which is where Nick has wanted to move for quite some time. When we found the house we fell in love instantly. It took a little negotiating with the landlords, they said no pets because of the hardwood floor throughout, but we had to inform them that our dog doesn't come inside, and if it is too cold she can sleep in the garage. They said yes and we moved in the next day. It took us about a week to unpack everything, mostly because I am incredibly lazy when it comes to stuff that isn't fun.

Now that everything is unpacked and situated I can really focus on my Swap. I just to focus and get it done, nothing is hard or too intensive, I have been so busy that all I want to do is sleep, not sew. Nick will be gone for most of the week next week so I will be able to get some stuff done then for sure.

My mom, sister in law and I are all going to get together to make some freezer meals from my all time favorite cookbook (Fix Freeze Feast) this weekend. I will be all stocked up on food for wrestling season. Nick has been craving a home cooked meal for quite some time. I made ribs and potatoes today, but he isn't even home to enjoy it.

I better get around to some of that sewing while Nick is still out. So, I sew.