oh....help.

Yes, it's been a month over a month since my last post. And yes, I'm the biggest slacker. Kind of...

And yes, this post isn't necessarily crafty. But read it anyway or you can't leave my blog. Serious...the browser won't let you. Maybe.

I seriously don't know how other blogger moms and professionals do it. I seem to be drowning in my 'to do' list, and I feel seriously lame that I can't keep up with the things I used to. I have cut back permanently on my wedding shoots, sure that would give me extra time. It hasn't. Yet.

I guess my question is how do you do it? I want to do EVERYTHING but can't seem to find the time for anything. I feel guilty if I spend too much time on the computer; I feel like I am not spending enough time nurturing my daughter.

Button has this sort of squishy face that she has begun to use, which at times is hilarious and at times is kind of gargoyle looking. 

Yep, that's the one.

I assumed she got it from my husband, but I looked in the mirror when she and I were playing in front of it laughing, and realized the face came from me. Rather than be depressed that I suddenly realized I looked like a 1st century statue while happy, I was really overjoyed that something I did was rubbing off on her. Then I was kind of panicked that some of my other less desirable personality traits might be being absorbed. I've since made sure that I control myself when I have sudden urges to be crazy. I am fearful of the day that she can talk, while I don't swear or anything like that, I'm not sure 'awesome' should be used as every other word.

I realize that I know very little about parenting. Button has already face planted thrice (hard) because apparently she 'moves'. She also thinks its hilarious to spit out every bit of pureed food that makes it into her mouth, all over me. She thinks its hilarious because rather than stopping her, I can't stop myself from laughing. She has been taught to raise one eyebrow in a 'How YOU doin' sort of manner. Because it's funny. She gets left at the in laws from time to time because I think taking a baby on vacation or to necessary gatherings is equivalent to pushing bamboo shoots up my fingernails. She is in a diaper most of the day, and usually doesn't get dressed unless its completely necessary we go somewhere. In fact, that kind of goes for me too. Minus the diaper.

BUT, she knows she's loved. And she is. More than I can even express. I never thought motherhood would be like it is. I never thought I'd ever grow so attached to something so gross at times. I never thought a simple giggle could make me happier than an all inclusive trip to the Bahamas. I never thought I could miss something so little so much when I'm away. I never thought that I'd be content laying on my stomach blowing raspberries on hers. I never though I could even do it: be a mother.

But I am. And while I epically fail so many times, the important thing is that I just keep going. I may never do anything perfectly, but I'm perfect at attempting. I look up to so many women who have done so much- many who are stay at home moms, many who are work at home or outside of home moms, many who aren't 'moms' at all. I think that whatever we can or can't do doesn't define us. I believe that it's who we are, who we are attempting to be that does.

 I know that there are many trials or problems that we have to overcome, many things that maybe we feel like we can't. Sometimes we feel judged, sometimes we feel overwhelmed, sometimes we feel like we are on top of everything one day and the next we fall off the wagon.

Regardless of who you are or what you aren't, know that you are loved. By family, by friends, but most importantly by God. You are important, no matter how low you feel at times.

Anyways, forgive my ramblings. And forgive my lack of creative blogging. I promise I have been working on things.....ish. I recently redecorated and 'flipped' my parents camper (heck yea baby), made a bajillion headbands for Newborn shoots, and have recently been trying to sew, like really sew. Now that my business is slowing down, I'll finally be able to really start blogging again. So stay tuned! hahaha, please? 

Until then here are some squishy and oh so adorable newborns (and headbands) to keep you company. 

 Sigh...Love this image. Loose rolled flower with pearl center and feathers out the back, super easy! Maybe I should write some tutorials for these...

 She is so gorgeous.... diaper cover from Sweet Kiwi Crochet. 

 I found these little wedding flowers at Hobby Lobby for $.08 a bunch. On clearance. Seriously eight cents. So I clipped them off the stems and glued them to a felt circle with craft pearls in the spaces. 

 Headband made of dollar store flowers you can buy in bunches at the dollar store, just take the flower of the wire and reassemble with hot glue. Craft pearl in the middle. 

 Headband made of layered flower and feathers. Simple tutorial for the flower is here. 

 Love him...

 Got these newborn cheesecloth wraps from MomMe Designs. 

 Hat by Sweet Kiwi Crochet. LOVE.

 I got six of these chairs for $15 at a yard sale. Boo ya. We weren't planning on a new dining set, but I guess we are now! We found a table we want to build at ana-white.com, so I'm excited to get the before and after's up, since we will be refinishing the chairs. 

The link on how to do this rolled flower is over at Tatertots and Jello, but now I can't find it. Meh. Added some netting as well.

Hope your weekend is fabulous! If you want to hang out over at pinterest, I'm here. If you want to see my fun photo shoots those are here. Hit me up if you have any questions, photography is...awesome. ;) 

things {to do}

Been hanging out with Button and Hubs this past week because Hubs graduated this past weekend in Business Management! We are so proud of him. We have one free summer till he starts his masters. I have made some things including a little graduation dress for Button that I'll post. She's growing too fast!  I'll also post a tutorial for the headband in the second picture if anyone wants it. Tutorial worthy? Have a great Wednesday!  Crocheted Flower Headband by Sweet Kiwi Crochet.

baby blessing {dress}

We blessed Button at our church on Sunday and it was a great day! I wanted to make her dress, so my mom came down and we set to work. The pattern is one that my mom used to make my blessing dress, so I'm pretty sure no one makes it anymore. :) I had my wedding dress made and so the material is left over from my wedding dress:

I altered the sleeves so they were half sleeves rather than full, then added ruffle layers down the front. It was a project, but I learned a lot.

(This is her monkey face. Blanket by Sweet Kiwi Crochet)

Sorry no tutorial since it was a pattern, but if anyone wants a tut on the ruffle layers or half sleve with ruffle, I'm happy to oblige. I also made the head band out of the same material. Happy Tuesday!
Linking up to THESE parties this week.

teensie {booties}

Aren't these the cutest kimono booties ever?? I made them using a pattern from Home Spun Threads. They have amazing tutorials and patterns... for free! Holla! So go get yourself some. These were completely free for me since I had all the material on hand. I just embellished with a button, and switched up the pattern a little.   They took me about 25 minutes, most of which was just trying to figure them out.  I didn't use interfacing, because I am WAY too lazy to go to the store for that.  Let me know if you have any questions!

home {made} mobile

It's Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend and New Years! I can't believe how time is flying. I feel like I'm on a huge merry-go-round and no one will let me off. Oh well.

Today I'll show you how to make this! I'm pretty particular about how little E's room is going to look, so I knew that I would have to make the mobile for her crib because I knew I would never find anything to match the theme.

 My awesome sister in law was great enough to give me the mobile off her son's crib who has now outgrown it. I needed the plastic pieces and even though the mobile was cute, it was all boy. I used the original pieces as a pattern. I measured out the fabric for the piece that would go over the mobile stand.

It curves out at the bottom to allow room for the bend in the plastic. The original fabric piece was actually longer than the piece I cut because the original piece allowed for a lot of bunching on the stand. I didn't want it to do that much so I cut it shorter. I also cute the piece on the fold which is important. I finished the ends of the piece and then I folded and sewed right side together using 1/4 inch seam and then flipped it right side out.

 It slid right over the stand and fit perfectly.

 For the next part I used the original cover of the mobile for a pattern. Sorry I didn't get a picture. I actually just used one square piece of fabric a little larger than the original piece to allow for the ruffle seam. I cut 4 strips of gray suede leftover from this project and matching this project about twice as long as the square sides. I then used a basting stitch and gathered them in, pulling the bobbin thread.

 I then pinned them to the sides and sewed them down.

 For the back of the square piece I cut out four triangles matching the corners of the square and pinned them to each corner creating a little pocket. The mobile legs will go in each pocket.

 I also sewed the ribbon I wanted for the mobile into the seam and the triangle pieces when I did a top stitch over the top of the square. It looks like crap a little rough when you flip it over but no one will see that so you're good. ;)

For the mobile pieces I wanted little birds so I free handed a pattern out of felt, cutting two pieces. I cut little wings that are petal shaped out of leftover fleece.

 Sew each wing where you want it to each of the two pieces. I sewed it right at the top so it would be able to move and appear to be 'flying' when it was stuffed. You could use any pattern you want.

 Then take your two pieces and pin them together with the ribbon inset and top stitch. I also put a feather in the back and top stitched over it.  Leave a little hole at the bottom and stuff. I used scrap pieces I had laying around to fill them. Then just top stitch over the opening.

 For the middle I tied a ribbon to the center of the mobile and glued rattan balls and feathers to give it a fun look. We did have a cat about three days ago and it only took her 2 minutes to sneak into the nursery and have feathers all over the place. I had to replace the feathers on the balls. The cat is now being 'babysat' permanently at our friends. :) At least till the baby is a bit older.

 Step back and admire! My friend recently visited and saw the nursery and said the mobile was 'very me'. I decided to take that as a compliment. :)

Let me know if you have any questions and what you think!! I'd love to hear from you! Comments (and followers) are most welcome. Happy Monday! Linking to THESE PARTIES this week!

ruffle rosette {onesie}

I have seen a few tutorials for Onesie Dresses online, but I felt they were lacking in the cuteness factor because they were so plain. And because ruffles are all the rage this season, because I'm expecting a little girl in a few months, because a few friends are expecting girls right around the same time, I decided there were more than enough excuses to cutify a regular ol' onesie.

So this is what I'll be showing you how to make!

Start with a onesie of your choice. I really love the long sleeve ones, and they can be found at Walmart.

I measured the width of the onesie and tripled the width for the length of the strips I'd need for the ruffles. The amount you need will vary depending on the onesie size.

I cut three coordinating strips about 4" wide and 24" long. (I added three inches to the width since my onesie was 7" and tripled would be 21")

I finished the top ruffle on both sides with a 1/4" hem about. I say about because there is a very high chance it went smaller because I wasn't paying as much attention as I maybe. should. have.

I came down about a half inch from the top finished seam, sewed a basting stitch and gathered the ruffle.I wanted a little ruffle top for the first layer.

I then measured down where I wanted the first layer to be on the onesie.

I started to pin, but realized I needed to seam the two ends together on the ruffle. So I slapped my forehead, unpinned, and then double folded and sewed the ends.

I matched the seam of the ruffle to the middle of the onesie back, but you can match it to the side seam of the ruffle to hide a little more. Pin the onesie down where you want it.

Sew over the basting stitch onto the onesie. Be careful not to sew the two sides of the onesie together, because it's really easy to do. Trust me. I won't put any un picking pictures to prove it.

Push the layer up to have room to work with your next two layers. You can press it at this point, but given my good luck with hot metal objects, I'll just skip that part.

Place other layers where you want them, pin and then sew. The other two layers I finished the bottom seam, but zigzagged the top. The white layer I also used a zigzag stitch to give it a little more visual interest between the two purple layers.

And here it is. We'll continue to embellish, because that's fun.

To make the flowers, use a circle shape. You can go as big or little as you want. Just know that once gathered in they aren't even half the size of their original shape. So if you want big flowers, use a big circle. Yes that is my camera lens cap. I am SUCH a multi tasker...

Hand thread a needle and starting with the inside of the circle out, do a loose gathering stitch.

So if you pull it, it will become a bowl shape.

Pull to the middle, pressing down in the center till your flower begins to form. You can coax the sides to take shape as well by holding down while you pull.

I made three of the same size for the onesie, and hand sewed them on, finishing with a fun button.

I also wanted to make a hair clip so I used a circle the size of a cd.I also cut a white circle from my lens cap. Follow the same steps, but just sew the two together with the button.

To attach the hair clip, I cut and then clipped a square of felt.

I then glued the whole side of the clip.

And placed it directly on the back of the flower.

That way it can be a hair clip or detachable from a headband.


And you're done! I also made matching burp cloths for it like I did in this post. I gave it to a friend who is expecting next month, but don't you worry, I'm sure my closet will be lined with these for my own daughter. The best part? The onesie was about $1 out of the package, the material on clearance for $2 a yard, so the whole project only cost about two dollars since I had lots of fabric left over. Huzzah. What do you think? Something you can make? And would this not be so cute done in fall or christmas colors? That may be my next project... Happy Monday!