Handmade

I had grand ideas about creating handmade gifts for Christmas.
I actually ran out of time.

I was able to complete 2 projects for my BF Catherine's kiddos.

She always appreciate's the work that goes into the things I make, so it makes me soooo happy to do this for them.

The first project I started was Molly Monkey.

I found this pattern over at mmmcrafts and fell in love!

I made a few additions/changes of my own & am so happy with the finished monkey.

I made her a little birdie necklace.

I made her a hair bow that is attached with a snap, so it can be

changed out. (plus I'm not much of a hat girl)

I also made her shoes close with velcro so they could be changed as well.

Catherine was so cute...when we met to exchange gifts, she was afraid to let Gannon play with Molly because she knew how much work I'd put into making her...this is why I love Catherine.

I think Gannon & Molly were already planning their next big move...

I also asked her what her son wanted most for Christmas...without hesitation she said, "a mohawk, blue" not realizing that I would somehow, someway, figure out how to make one.

Since his mama won't actually let him shave & dye a mohawk...I researched & researched, until I had a plan to make him a mohawk beanie. After lots of yarn tying, hot water soaking & agitating...I was thrilled with the result!

and I think Logan was too!

Through the Viewfinder (TtV)

So...I've been lurking over at Andrea's blog for several years now & have completely fallen in love with this form of photography that she has been working on...see her awesome post here.

I am now the proud owner of a vintage Argus Argoflex Seventy-Five. (purchased from eBay for a total cost of $6.99...can't beat that kind of fun!) I outfitted it with it's funky cereal box/electrical tape tube contraption & off I went.

I practiced on my best-friend's kids & wow was it tricky. The backward image, the awkward way you have to hold the two cameras, moving subjects, lighting issues...but it was SO MUCH FUN!

I think I'm hooked.

Happy Halloween!!!

I really, really, really would love to get back into blogging.
The seasons are finally changing in Las Vegas
and soon we will be out of the 80 degree weather.
There is something about the cooler days that inspire me to write, reflect, & share.

My Avery is a hand full...actually two hand fulls wrapped up in a spunky little girl package!
I've recently experienced a rather unsettling version of deja vu...
My petite girl (she's officially only in the 3rd % for weight) was lying on the floor today...
Did I say lying...I meant flailing wrecklessly & releasing an ear piercing wail when the recollection happened.

I distinctly and uneasily remember doing the same exact thing
in the hallway of my childhood home.
So it is true what they say...and I will be paid back ten-fold...
She may not look like me, but I may very well have given life to my very own mini me.

Incredible Blog Slacker!!!

I can't believe how I've neglected this space...

My only excuse is that I've been busy being a mom,

and quite a bit of time spent on my Etsy shop.

I miss this...

I hope to be back...

More pictures of myself & the little one,

I miss what an exploration & lesson s

elf portrait challenge can be...

must make time!

So...here I am.

Over a foot of hair cut off.

Donated.

I must admit this picture is so old,

I already have a new style.

Here's my sweet girl.

8 months now!

More pictures on our family blog (also neglected!)

SPC #35

Wow...my first since April

We've gone through a whole season...

I've had a baby,

and am now a full time mom!

I'm still wearing summer clothes...

Things...they are a changin'!

AFTER pics soon...

Can you guess what it is?

Come one...Come all...Please!

I'm very happy...and proud to announce that my Etsy shop is now open for business. I am slowly..very slowly, getting some of the goodies up that I've been imagining all these years while trapped in the corporate world. Being a full time mom is bliss and is allowing me to get back to the creative heart of my soul.....ahhhhh, it feels so good.

Come visit...let me know what you think!

It came & went...

My girl's first Halloween!
My favorite holiday of them all
& I didn't even decorate...
some things just take priority,
like...
sleep,
playtime,
& craft time!

I'm working on something really, really
EXCITING!
The top picture is a little clue...
more to come.

The Sweetest Thing

The girl can smile

Oh yes she can!

10 weeks old

sleeping 6-7 hours a night

happily breastfeeding

on the verge of laughing

Our girl is amazing!

What a ride...

Birthday Information:

July 30, 2007

5:06 pm

7 lbs, 5 oz

18 inches

7 hours of labor

She's incredible, beautiful, strong, a miracle

I never thought it was possible to love like this

I never thought it was possible to live off this little sleep

I never thought I'd be this lucky...

more of her HERE

Whoo Hoo!

So...I've done it!. I've completed all of my postcards for the Summer Postcard Swap. Although I've had a great time being creative and making something with my hands...and a little help from the sewing machine...I've made a mental note to not sign up for such a project next time I'm 8 months pregnant and in the middle of one of the hottest Las Vegas summers!

I had grand aspirations in the beginning and came up with the design for the felt ice cream cones, but after making 4 of them I realized, my baby was going to be here before I could complete them...I started from scratch with the flip flop design, which was much easier and I believe equally cute!

I hope all of the recipients love them as much as I do...I'm loving checking the mailbox everyday for my little summer treasures...thanks Andrea for organizing the swap.

SPC # 34

April Challenge - The Body

This is 21 weeks of growing a baby

This is our little girl's first home

This is the beginning of ....stretch marks.

This is my belly,

round and full,

growing with each day...

I never thought I could love my body

as much as I do at this very moment.

SPC # 33

January Challenge - "Resolutions"

I should be a little less lazy

I should eat a little less junk food

I should watch a little less TV

I should be a little less opionionated.

I should do a little bit more

and I should do a little bit less,

but I can't think of anything else

than this little bit of something

growing inside me.

It takes all I have to make it to work,

to make it off the couch to make it to the bed.

It takes all I have to eat something nutritional

when all I want is fast food & orange juice.

I am pregnant

and I am resolved to appreciate every moment

I am given with this blessing

to not dwell on our past experience

and have faith in the future.

SPC # 32

December Challenge - "Red"

The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart." - Saint Jerome

It's growing...this secret of mine.

p.s. That's snow on the grass...snow in Las Vegas.

SPC #31

December Challenge - "Red"

This little piggy has a secret...

Mish Mosh...

alright... things have been a bit hectic around my world, and I've neglected my little space here... I'm really looking forward to the holidays and time to expand my blogging.

T to B, L to R:

1. I started making invitations to my Halloween party back in September. Halloween is right up there as my favorite holiday, any excuse to dress up and I'm there. I got this idea from Martha Stewart's Halloween magazine last year.
2. This is my first softie made at the end of September. The pattern is from this awesome blogger & crafter (Allsorts)
3. I took a solo road trip to so-cal for the one and only Gannon and her magnificent 1st Birthday party. Much fun was had! (bounce house, face painting, taco cart...and more)
4. On my way home I spotted this license plate and made a double take... I was giggling all alone and braved driving in california traffic, while snapping away with my trusty Nikon, just to see if anyone else saw what I did. (Best viewed at original size.)
5. When I got home from my trip I had my first coloriffic swap-o-rama package... it had the cutest handmade pin from Stephanie at A Wonderful Treat
6. Shortly after we went to Seany Man's 6th birthday at the park...another opportunity to jump in a bounce house and take in all of the silliness.
7. Finally the Halloween party was here... I spent entirely too much time decorating and planning, to the point that I wasn't really having much fun... but, my super cool brother made it to the party as Speed Racer and seeing everyone else in costume made it all worthwhile.
8. This past week I got to hang with my best girl Catherine which culminated with a suprise birthday dinner for her husband at Smith & Wollensky's and after dinner fun at the House of Blues Foundation Room... it was incredible, the view from the balcony was breathtaking, wish I was drinking.... but more on that later! :)

Coloriffic Swap-O-Rama - October

I joined the Coloriffic Swap-O-Rama Flickr group this month and am sending out my first swap package today ... I hope my secret partner enjoys it! Can't wait to get mine!

New Banner ....

courtesy of Joleen .... thanks!!

Overheard again...

So... I guess I'm just a big eavesdropper because I've been hearing quite a few cute conversations lately... also, I have a lot of alone time and I enjoy soaking in everything that's going on around me...

Here's the scene ... shopping in a store (of course!) and two little boys, maybe 4 or 5 yrs old, were standing under a clothing rack while their mom was browsing.

1st boy: Have you ever seen people step on toys?
2nd boy: Yeah
1st boy: But have you ever seen toys step on people?
2nd boy: No
1st boy: Yeah...life's just funny that way...

I really needed that this week.

Like a Ton of Bricks

Working in my office today I happened to look up at the calendar... something struck me about this week ... and then it hit me full force. Heart in my throat, gravity nearly collapsing my entire being... a year ago this week I was told that this miracle of life growing inside me was not going to live, that I was not going to hold her in my arms, that I was not going to be a mother. Today that pain took my breath away, like it was just yesterday. I cried for myself, I cried for my husband, I cried for my family... I cried for my daughter.

Tomorrow is a new day and a lifetime to follow, countless blessings to be had, moments to cherish...but this day I cried for a painful yesterday.

Searching for moonstones in Cambria, CA (4 mo. pregnant)

Overheard today ...

While casually browsing through my local Old Navy today I overheard a most curious threat...

mom: "Damnit, If you fall out of that cart & hurt yourself, I'm going to spank you!"

I giggled a bit... then thanked my lucky stars that I had a mom that let me fall out of the cart to teach me a lesson ... no spanking involved ... a quick trip to the E.R. ... and you know what ... I never did it again.

Lesson learned ... Life hurts, don't make it worse by standing up in a shopping cart.