Guess what??

Ha! I did it! I don't know if you can really count the denim bag as a 'bag', but I'm going to! The denim 'bag' is Aalyia's and was made in about 5 minutes. I took one of her old skirts and sewed up the bottom and added straps. I would like to update the straps at some point, but for now, I think it's cute. Roci has the other bag. We went out yesterday and bought some fabric and put it together last night in about 3.5 hours. I was having problems with the sewing machine so that added more time, but I feel pretty good about the pattern and being able to make another in the future! Well, here's to setting goals and working hard to keep them.

Yaoza! Project 2, DONE!

I can hardly believe it myself. This wasn't my first sewing project. I've made a couple of blouses, a pair of slacks and a skirt in junior high, and a few quilts. But those projects were made with plenty of help:) This was my first one all by myself. It only took me about 6 hours from beginning to end. I finished it after bookclub last night at about 12:30 this morning. I know it doesn't look like much, but I'm happy with it! It feeds my handbag fetish. This one only cost me just under $6 to make. Now that I know what I'm doing, this bag IS easy:) Aalyia wants me to help her make one and I offered to make one for Mercedes since I wasn't able to find her a brown canvas bag for Christmas. I wonder if I can squeeze in 2 more bags by the end of the month???? Hmmm.... I think I'm not thinking clearly due to lack of sleep, but, what the heck, I'll go for it. In the meantime, I need to decide on project 3 for March. It will be either completing a scrapbook or finishing my backpack that I started back in 2003. I know, I really drag some of those projects out! By the way, thanks for the support! It's been fun to have people ask how things are coming along:)

Project #2 Tote bag

For February's project I decided to look at unfinished things I have, or in this case, projects I hadn't even  started! Low and behold I didn't have to look long or hard.
I found a pattern for a bag and some fabric that I bought on... brace yourselves, back in September of 2006. That is a little embarrassing. I only know for certain that this is the date because the receipt was still stapled to the fabric.
I'm not much of a sewer, although I do envision myself making slipcovers for my sofa and beautiful curtains for my bedroom, someday. In the meantime, I get easily overwhelmed and confused anytime I pull out patterns and instructions. The lady at Walmart assured me that this was a great pattern to start with and I could do in a couple of hours. Okay...
Move ahead to 2012: I sat in my computer room and pulled out the instructions to what looked to me like a blueprint for building the next space shuttle. There were several styles of bags I could make and I picked the bag with only 3 pieces and 18 steps versus the bag with 12 pieces and 32 steps.
I love bags, pocketbooks, backpacks... pretty much anything designed to carry stuff around. I do love my stuff and like to keep it handy;) I just don't think you can ever have too many bags.
As I was saying, I picked the easiest pattern to start with and read the directions several times because once you cut fabric, there is no putting it back to its original form. The pattern says EZ right on the package so I figured once I read it through I could be done in a couple of hours. Ha! It took me 3 hours just to iron the fabric and cut everything out. Yes, I'm aware that there were only 3 pattern pieces to the bag. I'm sure there was an easier way, but I did manage to get everything cut out. That is how far I got tonight. I hope to have a great picture to post of my pretty bag in the next week or so. I do have until the end of the month. It would be nice to have it done long before that, but I'll plug along and keep in mind that it is better to have something I want to use than to say 'I least I made it', and then proceed to hide it in the darkest corner of my closet. It's like the black hole; everything gets sucked in and nothing ever comes back out. Easy, breezy, right??? Let's hope so...

In times of test, family is BEST!

You never know what is around the corner. Life is good, bad and full of surprises. BUT, we don't have to endure our experiences alone! That is why God has blessed us with the amazing gift of family. We also like to keep our family growing by adding to it in the form of friends. No matter how crazy we may be, and believe me, no one is arguing that point;), we stick to each other like glue! We are always there for each other, as it should be. The following is a reminder to my children on what our family means to us:

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind!"

That quote is from Dr. Seuss and I love it! So much wisdom in that statement.

 We don't deserve our Father's love... we already have it! Kind of like our family:)

 Our family is truly our greatest blessing...

 If you look closely, you will see the spirit of those that came before us; all alive at this very moment. They are each a thread that represents the love shared throughout our history...

Treat your friends like family, and your family like friends!

 Our children will usually follow our example, not our advice...

 Never let an angry sister comb your hair...

 Thank you God for reminding us of how much you love us through your precious gift of family...

Happy Birthday Gage!

        Where does the time go?? How did I find myself with a 20 year old???

Gage's birthday was on the 26th so I'm a little late in posting this:) While he was having an ice cream on his special day, Bobby and I went to Sal's bakery and shared a slice of cannoli cake in his honor. It was bittersweet... the moment, not the cake. That was delicious!
He says the mission has been an amazing roller coaster ride with very high high's and extreme lows. He always adds that he can't imagine being anywhere else or doing anything else right now and that he knows God is with him and is always supporting him. What a faith builder.

Here's to my amazing 20 year old missionary down in the heart of South America. Dios te bendiga, mijo!