Sew Easy

In November I started a fairly time-consuming photography job. Between that and several other photography jobs, it seems that most of my spare time since then has been spent either taking photographs or editing them.  In the meantime I also hosted Thanksgiving, I've been taking the kids to all of their various activities and commitments - not to mention coaching their Odyssey of the Mind team AND chaperoning a field trip.  And let's not forget Christmas.  I'm sure I don't have to tell you how much work Christmas is. So, yeah, things have been a little nuts around here.

In an attempt to simplify my life I decided to purchase some cloth gift bags from Tiny Olive. I loved the idea of being able to reuse them year after year. But, just from looking at the description on the web site, I realized that these bags would not accommodate all of our gifts because they're fairly small.  And if you've been around young children opening gifts, you probably realize that they rarely wish for small things.  While I was looking around online for some bigger bags, inspiration hit. Why not make my own bags?!  My mom recently gave me a sewing machine, with the offer to teach me how to sew.  If you were paying attention to that last sentence, you probably caught the part about my not knowing how to sew. Plus I have absolutely no free time, remember?

Undeterred by theses small details, the very next day Mom and I set off for the fabric store.  We bought various necessary sewing supplies and about 22 yards of various different fabrics.  Instead of making a draw string, I decided I would tie a ribbon around the bags.  I figured that would make them easier to sew and I thought it would be pretty, to boot.  I also discovered that making my own bags was not great cost savings.  Hmph.

The pretty bags from Tiny Olive that provided inspiration.  By the time they arrived, I already had already completed three bags of my own.

Mom taught me how to load the bobbin and thread the machine.

She taught me how to make a french seam.

She showed me how to hem the top edge.

I now have a dozen large bags and I actually want to go back and buy some more fabric.  I may add drawstrings at a later point.  This was a great project for learning some sewing basics and I *do* think sewing is something I could totally get into it. Plus I'm excited to add these gift bags to our holiday traditions.

I'll have to add some photos of the final products.  I have a suspicion I'll be taking pictures on Christmas day...

Pesky Stored Form Values?

I had accidentally typed my user name AND password for eBay so anyone someone tried to login to eBay from my computer, my info was all right there...nekkid.  And as you can imagine, it was making me crazy.  I tried deleting cookies. No good.  I complained to my husband who said that I needed to remove the "form value".  Well, I still didn't know how the heck I was supposed to do that but that was more than enough information to find a solution courtesy of my good, close friend, Google.

TA DA!

http://www.refreshinglyblue.com/2007/06/01/how-to-delete-saved-form-data-in-firefox/

It worked like a charm!  Thank you Refreshingly Blue!

Dare Devil #2

Two of my girls are complete dare devils. She's one of the two.

On Friday Kardynn informed me that she wanted a cell phone...at the tender age of 3.75.

Today we got rid of the slide, the "spinny chairs" and their little Flintstones-esque, foot-powered car.  Plus we got them all outfitted in ski equipment...as in their very own skis.

They're growing up.

Today's Chat with Annika

Scribble Scrabble

Conversation with Kardynn:

"Kiersten wants to read Grampy a Matt book...because she knows how to read.  I don't know how to read...[enthusiastically] but I know how to listen...and I know how to scribble scrabble.  Autumn doesn't know how to color.  She just knows how to sleep."

*scribble scrabble = scribble

Smokey Eyes, ala Heather

The other day I flipped on the TV and happened to catch a segment on Rachel Ray's show with Tyra Banks.  I'm not sure why I had turned the TV because I only had a few minutes but it was long enough to watch Tyra Banks give a quick tutorial on smokey eyes.  The following day, I woke up, and feeling all inspired by having watching Tyra's tutorial, I actually put on some make-up. 

But within five minutes I realized I had a rare opportunity to go for a quick mid-morning jog because my mom happened to be there and could watch my youngest.  I switched to running clothes and went for a little 4 mile jaunt, pretty eye make-up and all.  When I got home I took a quick shower because it was now time to drive my mom to the airport.  As I was headed out the door, I glanced in the mirror and realized that I now had magnificent smokey eyes.  Though I do have to admit my method took a little more time and effort than Tyra's.