{grand}Baby Backpack!

Our little people have accumulated lots of little things (okay that might be my fault, just saying). Anyway, little guy has some safari animals. He loves all animals and at 26 months old know the majority of the monkey kingdom by name...this will be important someday I am sure! He was with me one day at the fabric store and I saw this safari fabric and thought, I should make a bag for his animals. Well instead of a bag I made him a back pack, from the tutorial here.


It is a super easy backpack to make. I, of course didn't use the layer cake pack, but just cut my pieces accordingly. I cut the button loop 1 1/2" wide. Folded it in half and pressed and then folded the ends into the center fold. Then I stitched on both sides. I inserted the loop when stitching the flap. I also noticed that the casing piece in her instructions is too short. You will want to cut it about 28 or 29 inches and hem the two short ends.
Now our little sweetheart she needed one too. I am not sure what she will stash but I am sure Mom and Dad will be missing a few items once this gets to her house. I lined her backpack with leftover cupcake fabric...

sooo cute and embroidered a cupcake complete with a cherry on top!

This turned out better than I had envisioned. (I always love when that happens!)

Just a couple of notes on these little cuties. The shoulder straps, when making those I used a piece of leftover cotton batting to pad them and make them look like "real" backpack straps. I really did used everything from my stash for the Little Sweetheart's, her straps were leftover webbing.

I didn't have webbing to match Little Guy's so I just made straps from fabric, using the shoulder strap instructions minus batting.

Since altogether right now there are 9 1/2 little people...I am seeing a few more of these in my future...can't say I am sad about that as they are "sew" easy to make and a lot of fun! I want to try one from recycled jeans....hmmmmm.... the possibilities

It's all about the Home

"Whatever the era, whatever the times, one thing will never change; fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children, you must hug your children, and you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House, but on what happens in your house." Barbara Bush

I came across this quote this morning. I had never heard it before, I think it is so true!

President David O. Mckay said, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

Harold B. Lee said,"The most important of the work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home."

Pillowcase Instructions

We hope you will have as much fun as we did making these! I hope you will consider making some for a favorite charity. Local nursing homes, children's hospitals, shelters are some of the few I know that may take these. Check before so that you are following their requirements. Someone once said, "Service is the action word for Love". I believe that is so true! As we serve one another and serve in our families we expand our capacity to love.

Supplies:
¾ yd. fabric (main body)
¼ yd. fabric (large cuff)
1/8 yd. fabric (small band)
Thread
Rotary cutter and mat

These pillowcases are fun and very easy to create. A serger makes them a snap but a regular sewing machine will work also. Hope you have fun creating and sleeping!

Cut a strip the 27” wide by the WOF (width of fabric) from your main body fabric
Cut a strip 8” wide by the WOF from your large cuff fabric
Cut a strip 3” wide by the WOF from your small band fabric

All fabrics are not the same width, so I layer my main fabric , cuff and band on top of each other and cut to the same width.


I like 42” wide…..That is 21” off the fold. When I layer them I fold the main fabric in half.

Line up the folds on the left and cut on the right. You don’t want to cut the folded side.

*NOTE: If you have a fabric that is not 42” wide then just cut all three to the shortest width.

With the main body fabric, place right sides together and line up the edges and stitch along the long side and across the bottom. I use 3/8” seam allowances.

Here is where the serger makes these a snap and SEW fast! Your seams are sewn and all finished in one step. If you are not using a serger I would suggest you either zig-zag or use an overlock stitch to finish your seam.

For the cuff and band place right sides together and sew along the short side.


These will now be a circle. Because these seams are enclosed you do not need to finish them unless you would like. Press the seam to one side.

Press the cuff and band in half and press. They will be 4” wide and 1.5” wide when you are done.

Make the center of the cuff and band. I just lay them on my ironing board and with the seam on one side I give it a little press flat. Do the same thing with the main body. Instant removable marks !
Place right sides together, starting with the narrow band. I like to use a pin at the seams and then one at the center mark. Now add the cuff on top of that and using the same pins , pin to hold into place. Now stitch around the seam.

Finish seam if needed. Flip cuff and band up and give a press. The seam will need to be pressed down and the cuff up. VOILA….pillowcase!

These are so much fun to make! Kids love having something special and unique for just them. When my kids were young , I made them one for each month of the year…so fun!
My youngest daughter just wanted to make one for her son while they were traveling. His has three cuffs. It is made the same way using the following measurements.

Large cuff cut 8”, middle cuff cut 4 ¼” and the narrow band cut 2 ½”. Follow the same instructions above you will just add the middle one.

Pillow Talk

Today the girls (my daughter and daughter in law), made pillowcases. We made 20 pillowcases and have enough supplies for 20 more, with about 7 of those all cut and ready to be sewn. It was such a great way to spend the afternoon. The little ones slept and we sewed. Here is a picture of our accomplishment.

Tomorrow I will post the directions if you are interested in making them yourself.
There are only 15 shown here the other 5 are birthday ones I am making for myself.
These are for a service project for "Make a Difference Day".
I love to serve and I love to work with my family as we serve. Nothing draws your hearts together more than working towards a common goal. We used to have family service projects all the time before we moved out here, this is really the first one I think....I think we will be doing some more! Stay tuned for instructions to follow tomorrow.

Celebrating Family....one day at a time!

I follow a really great blog, check her out here.
Here's the 18, almost 19 reasons I get up every morning!

*Since this picture was taken two sweet little girls have joined our family and we have a third precious girl due at Christmas time!*

I can't say it enough...I love my FAMILY! They are my best friends, my favorite people and they are the ones who make me laugh and smile!

This month the above blog is celebrating family! What a great thing to celebrate...if you would like to join the fun head on over and check her out. My beliefs and values tell me they are a God-given gift. That we can be together forever! That family is there for one another, helping and supporting.
Although we *look* pretty good in that picture (a wink and a smile), we are far from perfect. But we try, everyday! I am so proud of my children and their little families. I am so excited for the holidays as we plan and prepare to have Christmas together. What a fun time we will have and we hope baby L makes her grand appearance while all are here!
Thank you to those sponsoring this Celebration. I will be posting everyday about family...and I have a fun thing or two planned...I just hope I can pull it all off!
Until tomorrow, hug them and love them...they are only little for a little while!

Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

I GET to spend each morning with the youth of our church! It is a blessing in my life. They are such fun and some of them such good and caring friends! I loved being a mom and this is a tender mercy from a loving Father in Heaven to fill that empty spot in my heart. Yes, I still love and care for my own children and grandchildren, but they are not here 24/7 and they all have their own families now. I would say to parents Listen to them, the big ones and the little ones. They are bright and intelligent! They are our future and well our greatest HOPE!

I miss you Mom!

Let's just say this is always a hard week in August
Time flies quickly, I can hardly believe it has been 16 years. When this song came out a few years after my mother passed away I really did just love it! Something about it just makes me go back in time....

I have no sisters only brothers, so there was no fighting over pearls(literally)...but maybe their were struggles then...maybe even now. They say time heals all things, I suppose the pain is less, but I still sometimes just wish to pick up the phone and have a conversation with her....
I know Families are Forever...for this I am grateful. I know I will see her again, that brings comfort.
I see so much of those gone before in the ones coming now...did they feel that way about me, my brothers, my cousins?

Here are a few things I see in my 9 little ones (grandbabies) that I am sure she smiles at everyday!
Aliya...Sweet and smart
Kaylie...Independent and self assured
Landon...Neat and Tender
Parker....Full of adventure
Ty-kell...Strong willed and determined
Sophie...Artistic and gentle
Zurie...Happy and Kind
Amea...Red-headed and patient (most the time!)
Here is a picture of her in her younger years! Her beauty has been passed along in my beautiful nieces and granddaughters.

So to my mother who was All of the above and so much more.... Thanks for the legacy!

Hey....she is alive!

I hope this post doesn't cause anyone chest pains, or even worse a heart attack! We/ I am fine, just...well, I don't know just didn't find the need to post...I guess. Since the last post (haha several months ago), we have also been to Idaho to see grandchild number eight, which made her granddaughter number 5! She is a cutie and growing up way too fast, she is already rolling over I hear... My one regret, I can't live close to all of them!
School has ended for the year, meaning my calling as an early morning seminary teacher is finished until school starts again. (I use finished loosely, as there is lots of summer stuff that has to be done, just not daily lessons.) Our family has grown by two very small feet (that's a hint). I can't say more at this time until her mother posts, but suffice it to say that this addition has now made the little girl population outnumber the boy population 2 to 1. Grandpa is not sad, he loves the little princesses! We have received the notice of a Christmas present due to arrive late December....Grandchild number 10! Oh we love the grandbabies! The kitchen that has been in total renovation mode for nearly three years...may finally be complete! Yes! This is the best before shot of the kitchen I have...sorry I didn't take a before . As you can see no outlet covers (dare we admit how long they have been that way!) So look past the cute boy to the wall...if you look closely you can see a portion of the formica that is up the wall). Well it doesn't look like that anymore.....and yes when it is complete I WILL post a picture or two. I am still trying to find a decent full kitchen before picture also.

And last but not least, with the ending of school I want to accomplish some creative things...mark off a line or two on my bucket list if you will. One of the things I have wanted to do is to write a sewing tutorial...someday it will be a quilt pattern. But for now I am happy with this...so watch for tomorrow or Thursday a tutorial that is sure to make you want to get out your sewing machine. (Well I hope it does anyway!)
So we are all well, happy and hot (yea I think we broke 100 degrees in the last couple of days). Not a better reason to stay inside and sew!

It's March What????

So we had a fabulous trip to Puerto Vallarta Mexico to surprise this lovely lady...do you think she looks surprised?

She really was, although she stayed composed for a moment or so. She did know something was up, but not sure what it might be. (Check out the artwork over the couch...this artist's works were all throughout this complex...I thought they were just great! I think I was the only one)
Here she realizes it is ALL of us! She is overcome with emotion. This lovely lady is my mother in law and she celebrated her 75th birthday in Puerta Vallarta Mexico. Two days later all of her children and their spouses surprised her to spend a week with her and Dad in Mexico.
We all had a great time! It was so nice to relax a bit, and catch up with everyone!

Hugs all around and a few tears

Laughs and warm embraces

I really think she was in shock....It was late, we had to wait for Duane whose flight got delayed

We made it! Little did we know about the adventures that awaited us in this country.




See she looks so happy! It was great to be part of this surprise.

Here was what greeted us the first evening we were there out the back side of our condominium. Pictures don't do it justice, it was breath-taking

These were taken down off the Melicom. It was so fun to go down there and people watch, feel the sea breeze and wander. We all began an addiction for Mexican popsicles, "fruitas" as we called them. Let me tell you how yummy they are....YUMMY! We ate them every opportunity we had. Silly tourists!

Here is the Motely Crew the first day out!

Okay so I have been working on this post for over a month...sad isn't it. We had a fabulous time with all of Gary's family. I will admit I was apprehensive about traveling to a foreign country. I had a blast and never felt scared, even with the police in front of the mall with their machine guns. I think I will post this now, since it is now April. Maybe eventually I will get up some of the others, but I hesitate to post anything because...well it will be out of order...hahaha!

We are busy, and happy. Seems like Spring here in the Old Pueblo, no real spring weather, not Arizona weather. We have had a ton of rain (much appreciated!), which has brought many blooming plants (some of which we have never seen bloom), which has brought on a bad case of allergies for me! I know it won't last, and the beautiful color is well worth the itchy eyes (well most days).

*just a note this post was started March 18, 2010....wow I really am a blog slacker!

Kamrie's Quilt

This week is crazy! I am finishing up projects to take with us on vacation. We are headed to a remote location (I'll say later) for a special event (don't make too much of this :)). After a week of fun we will be off to see the new grandbaby, Kamrie and enjoy some time with her and other family. Here is her quilt:

It is not completely finished. I still have to handstitch the binding down. I will do that on the airplane.<

It is a quilt kit I bought at the local quilt shop. It is a Cutie Pie quilt (perfect for the newest granddaughter) featuring Robert Kaufman's cozy cotton fabrics. They are all flannel, it is oh so soft! Here you can see the backing...this is the piece that made me want to make this quilt.

I really like all the cute little prints in the quilt. Please excuse it's unfinishedness. This quilt is so soft and snuggly. I hope Kamrie will enjoy it for years to come!

Sorry no washed or folded pictures this time, without the binding complete a folded quilt picture isn't as appealing...and well can't wash it until it is finished.

It's a New Year...time to be frugal...let's start with the Laundry!

I have always liked doing the laundry, taking dirty clothes and transforming them into piles of clean, sweet smelling attire. However, the last few years have not yielded for me sucha a delight. Why? I don't know, because 12 loads or more a laundry a week is now more like 3 or 4 depending on the week. I have noticed over the last couple of years a significant increase in laundry soap. Now just for the record, I do laundry for one ultra sensitive guy...has to be liquid soap, no dryer sheets and if you use bleach...ummm must double rinse! Huge issues, huge! Therefore we have a brand we use and I haven't changed it in....going on twenty years. Apparently they have gotten that memo and have been sockin' it to me in rising costs. I started reading about homemade laundry soap...hmmm I thought do I dare. I dared, and we love it. Not only to our towels smell so much better, the clothes are actually softer. Remember we can't use dryer sheets, ever live in a dry climate with no dryer sheets, the static cling is HORRIBLE! But that has been reduced greatly and I am happy about that.
I used this site as a jump off place. She has some fabulous suggestions and at the bottom she does say you can add essential oil for fragrance. I didn't add anything and we are fine with how the clothes smell or don't smell in this case!

Here is what I did which is a modification to her recipe. We have extremely hard water, making your soap less efficient I guess. I upped the borax and soda and the bar of soap. I would like to try Ivory for baby and small ones laundry...just for fun!

1/2 bar Fels-naptha soap (I got mine at the grocery store, I have always loved this soap, it is a great spotter. When I had kids at home, I used to keep a bar in the cabinet above the washer for spotting those impossible stains, like grass and chocolate. This soap and a little elbow grease works miracles)
1 cup of borax
1 cup of washing soda(get this in the laundry aisle also)
Grate the bar of soap and put in a saucepan. Add 6 cups of water and heat until soap is dissolved. Add borax and soda and stir until dissolved. Pour 4 cups of hot water into a 2 gallon bucket. Add soap mixture and stir well. Add another gallon + 6 cups of water. Stir. Mixture will be a semi thick liquid. On the website the describe it as egg drop soup...this is accurate. Let sit 24 hours, the mixture will gel. It will be a liquid gel. I found I needed to stir periodically over the next 24 hours. The mixture got pretty firm on top. After the first day or so then I just mix it before use. I use 1/2 cup per load.

My mixture was cheap to make. I bought a box of washing soda, a box of borax and the bar of soap. I spent about $7. I have enough with one batch to do about 64 loads. I have enough ingredients to do one more batch, but will have to buy another bar of soap to do anymore. This works out to pennies a load. I still use bleach on my whites with this soap (I hear mom's voice), and I do double rinse (this if for my sensitive guy, but he hasn't had any issues).

With the new decade I have decided to be more frugal in my use of expendible commodities, I would rather spend our money on making memories with our family. Here is my first step to saving some bucks.

Let me know if you try it!
If you live by me and want to try some call and come by I would be more than happy to share a cup!

First Finish of the New Year and Sunflowers

Lots of years ago...25 to be exact(how did that happen?) We moved to a small community in Northern Utah. Our first home, our third child, fourth child and lots of memories...12 years of them were ours to be had there. We met so many wonderful and special people while there. People who have continued to be our friends, people who walked into our hearts and left great big footprints that we hope will never fade. One such family was the Merrills, he just happened to be our Doctor also...LOL! We would take small town medicine again in a heartbeat. Raelyn was a dear friend who taught me so many things, but one thing she taught me was the love of sunflowers! I can't see a sunflower without thinking about her. When I saw this blinkie, I had to have it here on my blog. From her I learned we should all be sunflowers and face the sun...or for her face the Son! I am thankful for Raelyn and all those who have graced my life and taught me so much.....
Now for the first finish of the New Year. This little quilt was in my head. Nothing special, but it will keep some little person warm.
The back is one of my favorite features of this quilt (I see a habit forming here). Love the maverick stars. Go here for instructions on how to make those.
Here is a close up of one of those cute little stars! How can you resist little maverick stars...trust me they will become addicting. And, why yes, I did use solid dark brown on the back and I really like it! This was a total stash quilt, gotta love that too!
And, of course, my most favorite picture of all, the folded quilt picture! LOVE IT! This quilt washed up so soft and crinkly. I hope it will make a special little one happy to have a blanket to love.

Word of the Year

DO

Last year my husband's cousin did this, she is a young mother of three(now four). I was impressed with what she had written and the thought she had put into having a word that you focus on for the year. I thought about it last year and wanted to do this to, but nothing, well not one word seemed right or correct to use. Well then, as it often does, I forgot! But recently I noticed someone else had done the word of the year (not sure which blog I saw it on), and I thought I really should do that. I have been thinking a lot about which word I would chose, what needed to be focus. It has been hard for me to pinpoint one word, but today I think I did it!
DO
So for the beginning of this new decade and year my focus will be Do, in 2010 I hope to DO:
When quiet promptings nudge I will DO
When idle minutes await I will DO
When someone is in need I will DO
When more is required I will DO
When asked I will DO
I plan to DO more reading, DO more sewing, DO more posting! Wish me luck and stamina...
I DO have a quilt finish for this year. I quilted this "big boy quilt" for my grandson. His mother, my daughter did all the piecing. I am proud of her accomplishments in this area. She doesn't seem to like to sew, but has done alot of it over the last couple of years as she has had a desire to make her house a home. Just for clarification...she had done appliqued scenes for his bumper pads, she unpicked (well her honey helped her do that) the bumper pads and used those on the back of this quilt...probably my most favorite feature of this quilt! Her little guy LOVES his blankets...he should they were made with love!
Tomorrow I will post my finish of the new year.

Eight!

She has arrived! Granddaughter number 5 and grandchild number eight is here!
Kamrie Dawn made her debut early this evening. She weighs 8 lbs 6 oz. and is 21 inches long.
Mom and baby doing well. Dad doesn't sound to bad either...LOL.
As soon as they send a pic I will put it up! Congrats to Seth and Dawnise and thanks for another granddaughter.

Sorry Dawnise, had to swipe a picture for here...