Who knew?

Who would have guessed being cooped up in a hotel would inspire me to sew. Well it's true I sewed up the cutest Halloween skirt for Brooke. The picture is not the best but I am hoping the details show. There are 3 ruffled layers. The 3 layers makes the skirt a little heavy. I am really glad I made the elastic a little tighter.

Brooke absolutely loves the skirt and still wants to wear it. I keep telling her Halloween is over but being the diva she is, she doesn't care. She wore this outfit to school the Friday before Halloween. The orange and black striped tights added cute flair. We topped off the outfit with custom made candy corn hair bows from April. She was a doll and made these up for Brooke.

So all in all I think the skirt was a success. I hope to get the sewing room unpacked. Maybe once I see it all set up I will get bit by the sewing bug once again.

Moving and the realizations it brought to me

I am a creature of habit and hate change so you can imagine what a shock to my system moving is. I lived in the same house in the same little town for nearly 21 years. I rarely changed around my bedroom furniture. Once I get things the way I like I don't see a reason to move it around. Why fix it if it ain't broke right? I thought our first move in 2006 was going to be the death of me. Not only was I leaving my family and friends behind, I was leaving the country all together. It took me almost a year to adjust there and just barely. We moved again two years later. After settling into our 2nd house in England and getting comfortable I found out we were moving again. HOLY COW that's 3 moves in 4 years!

Packing our life into brown boxes was not my idea of a good time. I don't think it is pleasant for anyone. How military families do this every 3 to 4 years is beyond me. I give them credit for doing it. Not only are you trying to get ready for the pack you also have utilities to cancel, schools to deal with and the list goes on and on.

Arranging my house by room and into categories was good. It gave me a reason to put things back where they should be. Let me tell you that there is nothing like a move to put you straight on just how much you have. I didn't realize how much small clothes and shoes my kids were holding onto until I got into their drawers and closets. It was crazy! The toys, books and pillows had just accumulated so it was time for big donation pile!

The real shock came of course when I went to organize the sewing room. Now I knew I had a lot of fabric but I had no idea I had that much! On top of the fabric I have managed to accumulate quite the collection of patterns, buttons, brads, beads, trims and gadgets. I could have spent days "shopping" in my own sewing room. It is amazing how over time I forgot just how much I really have. There were duplicate patterns and gadgets buried here and there and everywhere. When I say everywhere, I mean everywhere! I don't think there was a room in the house I didn't have something in. So when I finally find a house that sewing room is going to need some serious planning. I have been told there should be a destash in my future. Let's see if I can do it :)

Let's hope we find a house in time for the holidays and that nothing is broken. I am trying to look at each move as a way to declutter and reorganize. With each move I learn a little something and grow a little as a person. I guess what they say is true, that which does not kill us makes us stronger!

Sometimes I Wonder...

Sometimes I wonder how so many women find the time to do it all. I read about all these talented women who are great moms, volunteers, sewers/crafters, and career women. I can't help but wonder how they manage. I have 3 great kids who aren't too active in their after school activities but still keep me pretty busy. I have not found the right balance so I can take care of my kids, keep up with my house, and find time for me. There is so much I want to do but I always put it to the back burner and never actually get to it.


So I ask you my friends how do you do it? How do you find the time?

Photo Shoot

I finally got the pictures back from our day in Ickworth Gardens. It was so pretty there. We were fortunate enough to have a cool sunny day. There were 2 shots that instantly stood out. This picture in particular is so sweet and classic to me. It makes the dress I made for Brooke look flowly. I love the way her hair and dress are billowing in the wind as she looks over at the field. I just love it!!!

As much as I the first picture appealed to me this one here by far my favorite. I think it is my favorite picture Brooke has ever taken. She was so into those flowers. They were growing in a field as we entered the gardens. She stopped to pick a few (not sure she was supposed to do that) and would not part with them after that. As they wilted from being squeezed in her little hand she tried to revive them. After 2 days I finally convinced her to throw them out.

My little girl is growing up. I had not noticed how she had changed until I put these pictures into my photo screen saver. Her images as a new born, a baby and then a toddler moved across my laptop screen. The changes were subtle but it is official, she is growing up. *sigh*

Any who.... I can't wait for our next picture session in July with our friends the Raponi's. Brooke loves Mr. Tim and her new found friendship in Ms. Andi is sure to bring out great pictures that day. Brooke and I are already picking out fabrics for her next outfit. We have hair bows being made to go with it. It is going to be GREAT!!!

Happy Easter!

Easter is here! My daughter could not wait for Easter to come. She wants her easter basket in the worse way. I thought I should make her a special outfit for Easter day so here it is.

I am so happy with the way it turned out. This has to be one of the quickest outfits I have made to date.

Brooke couldn't wait to get outside and have her picture taken. Luckily it was a sunny day in England.

Brooke is getting to be such a ham. I think she likes when I make her something new because she knows a photo is not far behind. As soon as I show her the completed outfit she asks if it is picture time. She is a Diva in the making. Not only do I need to dress her, I also need to fix her hair with matching bows, clippies or ribbons.

I love that she wants to wear what I have made for her!

Valentine's Patchwork

I had a single charm pack of Valentine's fabric staring at me. She was lonely laying among the yards and yards of fabric in my sewing room. It was calling out to me so I broke down and made her into the cutest patchwork skirt for Brooke.

I think it turned out really cute! Brooke wore it out to lunch today and received tons of compliments. She was loving it! She proudly told people that her mommy made the skirt just for her. It did my heart and my ego good to see her posing so proudly in the skirt her mommy made her.

Now to figure out what to make her for that special birthday outfit. I want it to adorable!!!!

Stuck in a Rut

Sewing, crafting, what is that? I haven't touched my sewing machine in weeks. My sewing room looks like a dumping ground for fabric, patterns, trims, and now scrapbooking stuff. I mean it literally looks like a storage closet in there. Piles of fabric and patterns all over the place. There are unopened boxes in there too. I have created a small walk way so I can get to the computer but that is about it. You can't even see the sewing machine from the door any more. sigh

I have been stuck in this rut since the holidays. I have absolutely no motivation to do anything.
I made a resolution to be more organized this year and to follow through with what I start. So far it has not gone too well. I cleaned up Brooke's room and the play area then lost my drive. I started an outfit for her 2 weeks ago and still have not finished it.

I don't know how to get out of this funk. All I know is that I have become a fabric collector with great iedeas but no follow through. My daughter will be full grown and unwilling to wear anything I could make her if I keep on this path.

I NEED to do something to jump start my creative juices again.