Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Yet another easy sewing project

So I was inspired by the craft challenge on somewhat simple and made this crayon cozy


No crayons in it yet--forgot those at school. It was very easy with the help of this tutorial on Skip to my Lou. I whipped this up in about 30 minutes--I struggle with the cutting and measuring!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Nominate a Deserving Teacher

* Teachers spend avg $1200 of own $$ on school supplies annually! Help erase teacher-funded classrooms. http://bit.ly/3VUNvC PLS RT #omx
* Nominate a teacher 2 win $100 in OfficeMax classroom supplies. Enter here: http://tiny.cc/4Lk5k PLS RT #omx
* Join the “A Day Made Better” movement to end teacher-funded classrooms at http://bit.ly/UJ3LF #omx

More than 30 sites are participating in this campaign between now and Sunday, October 4. Visit http://momitforward.com for a list of all the giveaways! You may enter a different teacher on every site, but you may only win once!

Thanks so much for helping pay-it-forward to teachers in your community! Please join us on Tuesdays, September 22 and 29 from 9 to 11 pm ET for Girls Night Out (#gno) on Twitter if you’d like to meet the team behind the cause: @officemax, @adaymadebetter and @Adopt_Classroom. Hope to see you there!

I would like to nominate my colleague and friend, Ginger DeCavitch. Ginger and I teach at a school with a variety of students–some who speak little or no English, some with very special needs, some with gifted needs, some with home lives that make us cry, and some who really want to be at school because they love learning. She works every day to inspire the students and her fellow teachers. She is constantly looking for labs that will show the kids hands on what the concept means, usually spending her own funds to do so. She looks constantly for ways to improve and be better. She asks other people what else she can do, how she can modify her lessons and information. In short she is an amazing inspiration to the kids and the teachers in our building and would be so deserving of this award!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

I did it!



My first sewing project (beyond the appliques)--a set of smocked sundresses for some friends of ours with 2 little girls. I used this Martha Stewart tutorial, which has a small video with parts of the directions. Next time I will measure the length before doing the smocking and everything(the tutorial has it as the last step) but its hard to make a straight hem on a sewed dress I found. Also the straps look a little off to me so that might need to be changed. This is Michael Miller Bubbles fabric, I found it at a local fabric store but I have seen it online and on Etsy, perfect for fall with a little long sleeved shirt or onesie underneath.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Do you sew?

So I just got a sewing machine and have been really enjoying it. I want to try something beyond my appliques but I am scared. I sometimes have a perfection complex! I want to make some dresses for the little girls of some friends and family. I have serious baby fever and I am practicing so when we do have a little one my sewing skills will be better. Anyways I found whimsy couture on etsy, people rave about her patterns and tutorials. She is hosting a giveaway on her blog so hop on over and enter if you are also a budding seamstress! I really want to make this...

or this

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!
I love the tree necklace with the initials carved in--too cute!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

My new toy!


I bought a sewing machine and have been working with appliques! My sewing skills are still in process(I would give myself a partially proficient) as I tack them down with a zig zag stitch. This blog and google searches have helped me alot. This and this etsy seller have great tutorials. And fabric shopping has been fun here, here, and here!

Baby shower gifts for my friend Allison at school--we are the gators so she got an alligator, an apple, and a cupcake

Our friends who just had another baby girl--they got matching cupcakes!

Kevin's cousin just had a little girl so she is getting a cupcake and an apple...

...and their little boy is getting a preppy tie and a Halloween pumpkin!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

How cute is this?


I have been spending all my etsy dollars the past few weeks on fabric and applique stuff--I will post pictures soon of my onesies collections. (No not for me just yet--my brother and some friends with newborns or who are expecting). But I couldn't resist this cute little necklace--I didn't buy it but maybe someone wants to buy it for me?

Thursday, September 3, 2009

A great etsy find


So I read this quote a couple months ago and passed it on to Shelly at SingleStoneStudios who is having a design contest. I told her my talent lies in buying beautiful work not so much in creating it so asked her to come up with something. And here is what she did. I think it is so beautiful and the message reminds me that life is so much better together. Go to their store, the decals are so amazing, she and her husband are super nice, and if you have any design talent enter her contest!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

What $100+ buys you

after your health insurance premium takes a chunk of your paycheck. I am really not complaining because I know I am lucky to be working and have insurance but still. I miss Kaiser a lot(where this price would have gotten me a 3 month supply) and wondering how we'll ever afford to have a baby.
$60+ for one month of an Advair inhaler (my asthma is out of control now so I had to move from my generic to this)


$30+ for more nebulizer treatments(my rx got me a lot of these but I am supposed to do a treatment every 4-6 hours for the next 5 days so it won't last long)


$10 for a rescue inhaler--should last 2 months--I went through a whole one in the past 5 days prompting my visit to the doctor NOT NORMAL

$3 for a 5 day supply of oral steriods. I hate taking them; luckily I am hoping to get by on a 5 day course I usually do a 10 day tapering course. But if I don't improve that is what is in store for me. They make me shaky and moody and a little puffy--but able to breathe.

edited to add It also buys you an almost full night of sleep with the ability to breathe!