Mine

Remington Jean Jenkins

July 11, 2011 

9 pounds 2.4 ounces

19 inches long

Workin' hard for a train.

My boys have been begging for new trains for the last two months. Ruger has been dying to get a "Spencer" train and Sawyer just wants whatever Ruger wants. So Jason told them that if they would help clean up the rocks in the backyard, then they would go and get their trains. We have a complete overload of river rock in our backyard, left from the previous owners and for the last 5 years, we've been cleaning it out slowly...a work in progress, but worth it. Oh, and if you'd like some it's free!

 So Ruger worked hard all day, I mean all day. He loaded up two wheel barrow fulls and was such a trooper. I was so pleased with him.

 Sawyer? Well, he took a bit more motivation. He was having too much fun goofing off. We went to the toy store that night to get Ruger a train. We explained to Sawyer that if he picked up his share of rocks that he could get a train as well. So later that night he went out with dad and worked pretty darn hard. He picked up almost everything and then woke up bright and early to finish his pile the next morning. Then he earned his train, "Patchwork". He picked that one because it was every color of the rainbow I guess. :)

 And well, this is me. Two weeks to go! We had a scare a couple of weeks ago. I was excited thinking I'd have a baby, but instead was sent home and put on bed rest. Blah! Thank goodness for wonderful parents on both ends for coming and taking care of my wild bunch. It was really great to be able to spend Father's Day with my Dad here. That hasn't happened in years because we live far away, so I was pretty happy about that! I'm sure he was too...HA! The pic above was taken last week; my husband says I'm much bigger now and so does my wardrobe. We're pretty excited to have some girliness around this house!



Relieved.

 We took our annual trip to Shriners this week to see about straightening Sawyer's legs. They had planned to do the operation this summer, but his bones are still a bit small for the 8 plates that they want to use so we are waiting yet another year. We're counting this as a blessing because we had no idea how we were going to do both the surgery and a baby in one summer. And really, I would hate to see this little guy sad for even a day! Maybe by next year his legs will straighten out on their own and we won't have to do the operation at all!?!?!!! Wishful thinking I know. :)

Market Overload

This year market was an entirely different experience than last year, but still equally as fun. Have a "tiny" bit of experience under my belt helped and I was able to focus on more than just selling patterns...which I loved. Especially the networking. It's so great meeting people in this industry. So here's the recap  (in no particular order, because I'm feeling pretty lazy these days). My parents were able to come for Day 1 and see what market was all about. My mom had a glazed over look in her eyes the whole time, it was pretty funny. My brother Kim came for 2 days to help me figure out some of the business side of market and I was soooo grateful! He found out so much in two days that I've been trying to figure out in a year. Thanks bro!

 You all know Roni! She was a champ and helped out so much with the booth and sewing and soda runs and driving and just being there...love that girl! Oh ya, you know she's pregnant too right? She is...due in November! Super excited!

 Apparently my mom snapped this one of Kim and I chatting. And also...now I'm not only the "tiny" seamstress that everyone remembers for being so short, but I am also the "tiny" seamstress with the really "tall" brother (he's 6'6"). I love it! Everyone took pics everywhere we went because they didn't believe us. ha! They'd ask if he was my husband and I'd say, "No, he's my brother!" And then their jaws would drop! I love it! The ladies were really charmed by him though.

 The three of us at my parent's hotel. Yep, I'm looking really big and exhausted so just keep scrolling.

Shari (center) has been a great friend and mentor to me this year. It was so fun to catching up!

 Jason made these frames for me and I love them so much! They got more attention than the bags. I'm so excited to use them around the house now. :)

 AND THEN...one night, after everyone was gone, we took a little visit over to the Quilted Fish booth to see Elliot. I was going to steal him, but I didn't because their were too many witnesses...but next time I tell you!

 Quilted Fish booth again, with little miss Kayce.

 I was happy to see Jess back at market this year. She has such great designs. I've known her for several years and have always loved her bags!

 And for one of the great highlights of our trip! Roni and I were invited to the Riley Blake Party and we had so much fun. Even we were mondo pregnant and terrible dancers...it was fun!

 All you get is a cell phone pic. :)

That was our super fun trip! We stayed with my brother and his family, which left for some highly entertaining late nights with Carlin! Thanks to all of my super-supportive shops (new and old)! You were all so fun to meet and work with! OK, now I have to go make dinner for tonight because well, I am still a mom (a very very sad mom who missed her boy's preschool graduation for market...more on that later...if I can stand to think about it).

xoxo,



Spring Collection 2011

Better late than never right? I'm so sorry for the delay on my patterns. Roni and I are back from market and still trying to find our energy. We had a great time and I'm so excited to share pictures later this week! Yay! So let's do this...This first pattern is Little Miss Business! It has a cell pocket and larger pocket inside, with snaps on the sides to allow for the bag to grow a few inches larger. The ruffles are my favorite though! It's so simple, with just a little bit of sass. I love it!My second pattern this season is what we like to call, a little scrunched... There are pockets inside and one large front pocket. Fits perfect over the shoulder and is small enough to just tote around on date night. Love it!And this pattern is completely random, but was quite a hit at market. Ha! The Funky Chicken includes a fun little baby quilt (super easy) with a little stuffed chicken that lays eggs. hehe. In the back of the chicken, under the tail there's a little pocket that kids can stuff with eggs. My kids have gone nuts over this toy...I hope yours will too!

So that's it for now! I hope you enjoy the patterns. I'll get them listed in my Etsy shop asap. So watch for them. You can also find them in your local shop! If they don't have them, tell them to jump on the bandwagon and get some! Everyone is doing it! ;)

Talk to you soon. -xoxo

Could you say no to this face?

I couldn't either.

Farewell favorite jeans.

I don't look like this anymore.

Those jeans (above), they're my favorite and they don't fit anymore.

I haven't cut my hair in two months, which is a long time for short hair.

I drop Ruger off to preschool in sweats nearly every day. :)

I take lots of short naps and I don't sleep at night.

Everyone makes fun of me for forgetting what I'm saying mid conversation.

I have a 3 year old sitting on my right foot all the time.

And a 5 year old who corrected me on his bedtime story tonight...it's true.

My husband says I'm much happier and more entertaining when I'm pregnant.

I think that's because I forget so much. Oh well.

I finally found a new doctor (did I tell you that my old doctor took early retirement...grrr).

More on that later.

I'm also really blunt these days...learning to filter. :)

So that's all for now.

I'll keep you posted on any more pregnant adventures that come my way.

Ta ta for now!

Oh, oh, oh, new patterns coming soon...you might be surprised! hehe.

Baby Steps

My husband and I have been going through old boxes lately...attempting to get rid of stuff. While doing so, we came across this little treasure from my childhood. It was a very special gift and means more to me now than it ever did back then. I'm so glad I kept it! I was thinking (now that it's almost April) that this would be a great motto for me this year! As a family we've witnessed a lot of great things come to pass for us this past year and maybe this coming year we can build upon those dreams one small step at a time. What do you think? Do you have any BIG dreams you're working on? Fill me in, I'd love to hear! xoxo,

It may be awhile...

before I get my hands on a set of these.

photo

But I'll be ok, as long as I don't drop my tongs in the bottom of the washer again. :)

Boutique Nights.

These cake pops were my fave!

A few months ago I was trying to think of a way to get rid of all of my old market products, as well as test my new designs to see what kind of response they would get before market. I noticed on a few blogs that people were hosting boutiques in their homes. Their concept was a little different, but the idea was the same. So began my boutique nights. My mother was so generous and brave to be the first to host and then my sister-in-law Betsy hosted another for me last weekend. Best. Idea. Ever. Both were a success! :)

Because my new patterns were in the mix you don't get to see pics of the products yet (sorry) but I will make you super duper hungry with shots of the incredible food Betsy whipped up! She's so fantastic...I think I'll keep her! ;)

It was so fun to mingle with all of the women at both parties and it's even more exciting getting those emails of your (already) finished products! I love it!

Thank you everyone for your support!

xoxo,

Never grow up.

I'm not sure what it is about having a new little one on the way but somehow it changes everything in our home environment. We appreciate things so much more. We get scared a little more of what the future holds. And we just want to be with our family all the time. Life is moving fast and every night when I set the table I wonder how on earth we made it this far. But oh, we're happy, we are so happy to just have each other. I hope you are all happy too!

First Things First!

We need dresses! Lots and lots of dresses!

And maybe one of these...