Sunshine

The sun has been shining on our end of the state and we have just been eating it up. The boys have discovered their swing set again and it's like Christmas all over again (yay for me!!!). Spring break is just around the corner and we have nothing planned, which is both a pro and a con. Perhaps we'll think of something fun to do. Any ideas? Any???

Sawyer is tugging at my shirt so I'm off to spend a fun weekend with my children. Maybe we'll dye some eggs? Or just finish that massive pile of laundry downstairs?

Maybe?



So Blessed

Eight Months

 I'm a little late on this post cause we've been a little busy this month traveling all over the state, but we are back and settled again. Little Remi has is a crazy girl full of laughs and smiles and lots and lots of shoulder snuggles (my favorite).

Remi your favorite foods are strawberry smoothies and solid bananas! And your favorite person is ME! Usually. :) You've learned to reach for what you want and you clap a lot and wave a little...occassionally.

You are trying so hard to sit up still and are getting closer and closer each day. You sat for a few seconds before cathing yourself with your arms. You roll and pivot yourself to any destination you desire.

You absolutely HATE riding in your carseat at night! Traveling will probably be difficult for the next little while.

You have two bottom teeth and two more on the way. You've been a lot happier since they broke through as well.

We love you lots little Remi Jean Bean! Keep that gummy grin of yours! It's our fave!

The Poppins Bag

 It's here!!! I have used this bag for almost a year now and I love it more and more every day. My green one is ragged and dirty and completely used, but I still get compliments on it! It's absolutely adorable and still holds everything you need. As Mary Poppins would say,

"Practically perfect in every way!"

One really fun feature is the child handle! I added this feature when I knew my third baby was on the way and I was all out of hands. It's true, walking into Target with a carseat in one hand, the four year old on the other and the six year old wondering somewhere behind can be a little stressful. And I have to admit, I am not a fan of putting my child on a leash. The child handle has become my third hand. It's perfect for children to hold onto and trust me when I say this, they love having the freedom! My boys prefer the handle much more than having to "hold mom's hand"!

And then...there are the pockets! This bag will keep you so organized, you won't even know what to do with yourself! There are two large pockets and then three smaller pockets just on the inside! The big ones are diaper/wipe size and the smaller ones are great for sippy cups or water bottles.

 There are four pockets total on the outside! You can see in the photo above, the outside pockets have a delicate trim along the curved edges and then the silver rings on the handles giving it a little less of a "handmade" feel. My favorite part of the bag is the scrunched center. I've done this on one other bag of mine and the shops have loved it! It's a little sassy and a lot of fun to make.

 And finally, the curve at the top of the bag came through trial and error. I've been trying to figure out how to make a bag that's snug around the arm, but not tight. By keeping the straps long and adding depth to the top of the bag I was able to get that snug feel. If that makes any sense at all? And I hope you like it too! :)

As always, the pattern comes with pattern pieces, easy to follow instructions (tested by all levels of seamstresses) and is quickly shipped directly to your mailbox. So hop on over to my shop and order one today! And thank you again to Beth for the great photos!

The Poppins Bag is practically perfect in every way!

A simple clutch tutorial

 There was a time a few months back when I was so sick of blogging, but now that I've been so sparse with it, I'm starting to miss it, just a little. I've been working on some tutorials to share with you all. Just little projects that I've wanted to do that were fun, but not quite enough to make into a whole pattern. And I've forgotten just how much work a tutorial can be! It's crazy to me that there are bloggers out there who offer a free tutorial every single day! I may not have one for you every day, but I do have a few coming this way and I hope you enjoy them!
This first one is just a simple clutch that I have really enjoyed having around. It's so quick and perfect for birthdays or baby gifts (stuff a few diapers in there) or even just travel.

To start you will need:

-1 yard of fabric

-1 snap or piece of velcro

-1/2 yard of fusible fleece

 

1. From your fabric you need to cut (4) 16" by 7" pieces for the body, as shown above and (2) 10.5" by 6" pieces for the flap.

2. From your fleece you need to cut (2) 16" by 7" pieces and apply to wrong sides of two body pieces. Then cut (1) 10.5" by 6" piece and apply to wrong side of a flap piece.

 3. Fold each flap piece and each body piece in half.

4. With the flap, your going to measure to the left (as shown above) 1" and cut off excess.

5. With body, you're going to measure to the left (as shown above) 2" and cut off excess.

6. Using a glass or cup, trace around each bottom corner of both body pieces and flap pieces and cut off excess.

7. Place body pieces with fusible fleece right sides together and sew down both sides and across bottom. Repeat with other two body pieces, leaving a 3" opening in the bottom to turn later.

8. Place flap pieces right sides together and sew down both sides and across bottom.

9. As shown above, you're going to clip around all curve edges of body and flap.

10. Turn flap piece right sides out, press, and top stitch. Measure from bottom center up about 1" (on non-fusible fleece side) and add velcro or snap.

11. Turn body (with fusible fleece) right sides out and measure from the top center down about 3" and add velcro or snap.

 12. On the body (with fusible fleece), on the opposite side of velcro, center the flap (as shown above, with velcro facing UP) and top stitch across the top.

 13. Place body (with fusible fleece) inside of lining body (without fusible fleece), as shown above, and sew around top edge, making sure all seams are lined up and flap is tucked inside.

14. Pull bag through the 3" opening you made earlier in the lining body. I like to call this the birthing of the bag, because it's the most painful part having to pull all that fabric through a tiny hole, but in the end it's all worth it! ;)
15. After that, you're going to top stitch your 3" opening closed and then top stitch around the whole top of the bag and voila! Your simple clutch is finished!

 Now, if you want to add a few accessories you can. I added these tiny flowers to my black and white clutch for fun and they were super easy. I just cut 2" circles, folded them into fourths and hand-stitched them on! I hope you enjoy this clutch! It's a perfect 30 minute project if you're looking for something quick and easy!

When I took you to Vegas at 7 months

This year Grandma K turned a whopping 70 years old, but you'd never in a million years guess it. We went to Las Vegas to celebrate with all of the family and boy did we party! You were the only baby I saw in Vegas and thankfully we stayed in the Trump Hotel. Grandpa picked that spot so you wouldn't have to be in a stinky smelly casino the whole time. Thanks Grandpa! There was one casino that we had to walk through to get to our dinner reservations. We stopped to watch Uncle Brady drop his one quarter in the slot machine and a lady told me I had to keep walking because you were under 21! Ha!

 You really loved the bread at Max Brenners....I said it on FB and I'll say it again...best. food. ever!

 While all the other wives had their husbands, I had you to pal around with and share a hotel room with and we had a blast! I felt so spoiled not having to take your dirty diapers outside! :)

 This month you've grown up so much and have become so much more aware and excited about the world around you! You love playing peekaboo (below) and you still make yourself a part of every conversation. Your favorite toy is Sawyer's Rachet (?) transformer, forget about Bumblebee, you like the green one! You're trying so hard to sit up on your own but it will still be a little while because your legs are so itty bitty. You are in the 1% on height and 10% in weight and your eyes have settled in color (brown towards the center and blue around the outside). You have 2 teeth coming in and are still happy and drooly! You rarely cry. You just sort of fuss when you want something, which totally works for me! Your hair has started to grow a little and you prefer to eat your bows, in fact, you pull them off the very second I put them on.

Love you little girl!

2012 Valentines

 I saw the boys valentine idea on pinterest and just loved it! So I thought I'd try and make something similar. I love Ruger's face in his, so cheesy! Happy Valentine's Day...soon!

My prelude.

     A few weeks ago I began planning my trip to quilt market this coming May. I was scheduling flights, filling out my paperwork, and searching for hotels. And then one night my husband and I were discussing work and he was telling me about something he had coming up, when I felt myself getting frustrated because it was going to conflict with something of mine. I felt competitive inside and I didn't like it. I stopped myself from saying anything and later found myself with my head against the wall (literally) praying for understanding of my feelings and for a clear decision. Something wasn't right and I knew it because my emotions couldn't find a place to land.

     I was stressed about leaving Remi. I was stressed about taking Remi. I missed Ruger's preschool graduation last year and I have another one of those coming up this year that I don't want to miss. On the other hand, if I don't go to market there will be opportunities missed and a loss of growth for my business that I've worked so hard to gain.

     While this business doesn't seem like much at the glimpse of my little blog, it's a lot to me. It started because my husband had to leave for a few months of training and I had nothing to do. As my business grew a little, my family grew a little. It was then that I decided to go into pattern writing, so I'd have more time for my children. And when I come head to head with making a decision like going to market, I have to really weigh my pros and cons. Sometimes everything falls into place and my pros win. But sometimes, even if there are more pros, the cons will outweigh them.

     Everyday for the past month I've heard the same tune in my head over and over. A quote by Elder James E. Faust,

      "She need not try to sing all of the verses of her song at the same time."

     At one point, this little business was really helpful in paying the bills and getting us to the next place we needed to be, but that's not the case anymore. The children are fed, housed, clothed, and loved. Life is good and my husband is taking great care of this family and so for now I will pause. I will still design at home and release new patterns, but going to market this year just isn't in the cards for me. So I will sit this one out.

     I am not writing this post because I think you all are going to mourn my loss at market (I mean of course you will cry yourselves to sleep tonight) but, I am writing this for my children. I want them to know that I chose them as my prelude. I don't want to miss a single beat to my song or theirs and so I need to write this down and remember in the days and years to come that they are my number one. Everything else will have it's season. I know the days will quickly come when they are late for curfew and I am sewing up a storm, pacing the floor, wondering where on earth they are or when they're at soccer practice or wrestling or ballet, I will have hours and hours to sew and keep myself busy. But right now, I don't have a lot of time because while my children are still young, I know for certain that they won't be young for long.

Six Months!

     Oh Remi, I just can't believe it's been six months already! I mean, just look at you! You love to blow raspberries until your clothes are soaking wet. You've discovered that it's really funny to pull Sawyer's hair and make him cry. You roll all over the house  and often right into the hearth and then you cry. :) You always stop traffic everywhere we go with those big dark eyes (still not sure the exact color). You try really hard to clap and end up smacking your belly and then you giggle a lot. It's super cute! You suffer stranger anxiety more than most babies and that's probably because I never let you leave my side, but that's ok...for now! :)

     You talk...a lot...a lot....and we listen. Your brothers adore you still and just can't get enough of you. They always make sure your warm and covered and happy. Ruger will bounce around the back of the van making sure you're never sad in your carseat and Sawyer tries to feed you fruit snacks all the time because he's so certain you would enjoy them. And you will, one day. You are tiny and chubby, but not. You are still very much below the growth charts but your legs are chubbier than any chubby baby has ever declared and I love it! You are tender and sweet and bring tears to my eyes with your big gummy grin! We love you chubs and still are so very happy to have you in our little family!

Benefit Concert for Amy Hamberlin.

     Recently my sweet, sweet friend and neighbor Amy was diagnosed with 5 brain tumors and she just came home from having her first of many surgical procedures. I went to see her yesterday and she was her giddy, high spirited self...I know few people that can laugh through their struggles like Amy. And she will probably tell me to take this post down when she sees it. Telling me that she's fine and people don't need to be worrying about her but I don't care, because she's one of my very best friends and I love her to pieces. Do you know that when I had my baby girl, Amy showed up at my front door with 5 bags of groceries so I wouldn't have to go grocery shopping! She's helped me so much in life (especially with my business) and I owe her so much in return. So maybe posting this will help spread the word just a little bit.
     Her sweet sisters have arranged a benefit concert for Amy to help cover medical bills now and also those to come. The concert will include Nik Day, The Lost River Wranglers, and Jo and Jacie Sites and will be held at the Rexburg Tabernacle on Saturday, January 28th. You can read more about it and make donations if you'd like here: http://hamberlinbenefitconcert.blogspot.com
     I know that everyone who meets Amy is touched by her sweet spirit and generosity. So if you are able to attend the concert, please do and help this amazing family!

Welcoming 2012!

Remember this time last year? I really can't believe it's 2012 already. But guess what? I am so ready for a new year and a fresh start. Last year was great and I enjoyed all of it, but I'm anxious to get into our new routine, start cooking again, getting this house back in shape, and designing some more. I know that 2012 will be filled with trips like this to the grocery store:

and nap times like this:

and all of that is truly heaven for me! Ruger is reading like a champ, adding and subtracting. Sawyer is learning to write his name, crack eggs, and snuggle his little sister. And Remi has discovered her tasty feet, her noisy tongue, and her mommy's pushoverness (yea, that's not a word). We are just so blessed. 2011 was a great reminder of all of our blessings and 2012 is looking like a great year of enjoying those blessings! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! We'll be back next year with more blogging and new designs (sorry I've been such a slacker). But for now, you can hop on over to Annalee's blog for a fun Tiny Seamstress give away! We're giving away one of my new Clutch designs! Yay!!! So go enter to win...you know you want too!
See you next year!

5 months

This little beauty will be 5 months old tomorrow! Can you believe it? She is getting so big, my heart can't take it!!! She is holding her head high and rolling over from belly to back. She loves eating her hairbows and blankets and is very persistent on spending time with daddy every. single. night. :)

We went out on a date for the first time since she was born and we left her with some close friends. When we came back she was super mad...I mean, wouldn't even break a smile, kind of mad. Needless to say it will probably be awhile before we do that again...however, it was fun hanging out with just my hubsand! She somehow manages to find her way into our bed each night and loves those silly brothers who sing and dance for her all day long.

 We love this crazy bunch of ours!

Black Friday Sale!

     Hop on over to the shop for some super great deals on clutches, bags, totes, kits and patterns! My mom loves it when I make her a handmade bag for Christmas and I know yours will too! So snatch up a super cute kit before they're gone! Sale ends soon! Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

Pretty in White

     Yesterday was Remi blessing day. It turned out to be a wonderful day for us all. I love having family in town visiting and I'm so grateful for parents on both sides that are so supportive and involved with our children. Remi was as beautiful as ever and well, naturally I was one proud mommy showing her off! :) Ruger was as sick as ever with the flu and Sawyer was off playing somewhere, so we just did pictures with her by ourselves. Love that girl! Love, love love her (in case you missed that)!

In record time

In two short weeks, I will be attending the Unique Boutique in Idaho Falls, selling all my fancy stuff. :) And so I'm sewing away over here, staying up til the wee hours of the night. In fact, I just finished this beauty in record time. Three episodes of Last Man Standing (thank you Hulu). Do you like how I measure my sewing time in episodes, as opposed to actual time?
Anyway, I will be selling patterns, bags, and kits to make your own bags (i.e.darling bag shown above). I would love for you all to come and see me! You can get all of your Christmas shopping done in one stop and hey ,you can make a bag for your mom in record time, and she will love you all the way to the moon and back (at least that's how it works with my mom).

And just a little side note, I will also be hosting a little black Friday over in my Etsy shop, following Thanksgiving. So make sure you check back for some killer items!

xoxo, tiff

And a little something for her...

     I started this quilt before Remi was born and it's taking me forever to finish...I'm thinking it will be her Christmas present. ;) I love, love, love how it turned out! The pattern was a much bigger size and I just wanted a baby size quilt to match my diaper bag, so I took off a few rows and it worked! I was quite surprised I figured it out. Ha! Some day I'll get the binding done...some day.