Little Bits of Inspiration

Hurdles are in your life for jumping

-Rev Sharon Poindexter

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work

-Patricia Clafford

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give

-Winston Churchill

Every day holds the possibility of a miracle

-Elizabeth David

I hope you had a great week and will have an even better weekend!!

-Debye

From My Window

A lot of you have asked, how I do raise 3 boys, run a boutique and sew everything for my Etsy store? Truth be told lately I feel like I am doing a lot more sewing for orders then "mommying" which is not quite what I had in mind. This is the view from my sewing table so far this summer :

As adorable as it is, I want to be part of the fun........not just an observer. Sewing keeps me sane but sometimes it does the opposite. Before the summer slips by, I have decided to wind down my Etsy shop until August. I am not going to be listing (or relisting) any new items until then and you will notice my blog posts are less frequent.

I am getting most of my bolts from Sandi Henderson's new fabric line, Farmers Market, this week so I am going to be creating a new line and will offer some sneak peaks here and there on my blog. We are going to also take some time to drive up to Northern California to visit my parents and attend the San Francisco Fabric Show (you can't expect me to go cold turkey) and then when I am back, refreshed and "re-bonded" with my kiddos, I will start releasing the new line!

New Swap-We The People Swap (Tote Bag)

It is time for another Swap, this time it is a Tote Swap! Take a minute to stop by Tracey's blog Itching2bstitching for details on her next swap.

The swap is called WE THE PEOPLE SWAP because it was selected by all us posters!

Here are the requirements:

1. The bag must be large enough to carry books, magazines, or some grocery items.
2. The bag must be made around your partner's likes. Please pay close attention to what your partner likes and dislikes. We want a bag that someone will love and use.
3. For fun - because who likes an empty bag?- let's put 1 yard of your favorite fabric inside the bag to share with your new friend. Please give your partner your favorite fabric and not a "left over" or " least favorite" type of fabric. Let's stay away from Holiday or Juvenile prints (strawberry shortcake or Pooh), and maybe aim for stars, flowers, apples, owls, stripes, dots, etc.
4. Add a recipe, a favorite book recommendation, or a craft you like to make - so that once your partner has their new bag - they can go out and fill it with goodies!
5. You will only have ONE PARTNER this time around!
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: Friday, June 27th
DEADLINE TO MAIL PACKAGE: Thursday, July 31st
INFORMATION I NEED IN YOUR EMAIL TO ME (Punkrockertracey@yahoo.com):
*Name
*Address
*Email (for my purpose only)
*Blog or Website Address
*Your likes and dislikes
*Tell me if you would mind international shipping
If you like to read or go to the farmers market, tell your partner. More information helps your partner make a bag that you will love. Do you love lots of pockets or hate pockets? Do you always carry a cell phone or water bottle? Think about what you like on a bag to offer as a suggestion. Your partner DOES NOT have to follow your suggestions - but it may be of some help when selecting a bag pattern to follow

Have fun!

I have never made a bag (sorry my soon to be swap partner), I leave that to Suzanne, but thought I'd give this a try. So of course, I have to practice first on a bag for myself so I picked up this pattern:

And the sketchbook and shadow fabric (which I have been dying to use) from Anna Marie Horner's new home decor line, drawing room.

I can't wait to get started!

Happy Fathers Day

My husband is not only handsome, charming and a truly good person but he is also the worlds GREATEST Dad! So the kids and I had a great time spoiling Dad on Fathers Day!

Chase helped mix the pancake batter while Jonas was in charge of the scrambled eggs and bacon

Yummy Breakfast Buffet before church

Jonas wrapping the present, we got field level seats for next Saturday's baseball game, my San Diego Padres versus his Detroit Tiger's!

We made a Father's Day banner

After Church we drove an hour up to Julian for the world's best apple pie! After that I took the kids out so he could have a real nap......no pictures of that or I would be in pretty big trouble! Happy Father's Day honey, we love you!!!!

Beauty Tips

Written by Sam Levinson

FOR ATTRACTIVE LIPS

Speak words of kindness

FOR LOVELY EYES

Seek out the good in people

FOR A SLIM FIGURE

Share your food with the hungry

FOR BEAUTIFUL HAIR

Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day

FOR POISE

Walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone

People, even more than things, need to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anybody

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand you will find one at the end of your arm

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourselves and one for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

Future Fashion Model

Yesterday my friend Angie was nice enough to hang out with us all day and allow her little girl to be my fashion model for our new clothing line.......isn't she just the cutest?

Wordless Wednesday-Where'd It Go?

I know there was another yummy bite of my Grilled Cheese Sandwich but where, oh where could it have gone?

Look What I Got!

YIPPEE! I received my first apron swap apron from the Summer Apron Swap hosted by A Feathered Nest.

What makes this apron EXTRA special is that it was my partner's first time making an apron and it was just for me! I love the color combination so unexpected and fun!!! Plus (to top it off) it is completely reversible. She included a sweet note and a vegan cupcake cookbook that I can't wait to try out. We have one vegan bakery in the area that is pretty high priced so this will definitley come in handy!

THANK-YOU SHELLY, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

Two Simple No Sew Banners

These quick easy banners require no sewing, look great and take minutes to make!!!!

Sock Monkey Banner:

perfect for parties and over a crib

Materials used:

1 package of 1/2 inch bias trim (found in sewing department)

2 sided scrapbooking paper cut into 6 by 6 squares (you can make different shapes & sizes)

Craft or Fabric Glue

I made this one in a monkey theme for Cooper's Birthday but with all the great fabric designers now coming out with scrapbook paper, you can make them truly gorgeous!!

All I did was take 6" by 6" squares of the 2 sided paper and I glued them inside of the bias trim.......5 minutes flat and viola!

INSPIRE banner

great for hanging in a doorway or on a fireplace mantle)

Materials:

2 sided scrapbooking paper

Letters (I used chipboard letters but you could use stickers, paper and rub on letter as well)

Ribbon

Simply cut larger circles and slightly smaller circles from your 2 sided paper. Use one side as the large circle print and glue a smaller circle from the other sides coordinating print (or mix it up and use several different designs) and glue together. Next, glue on letters for whatever phrase you want (Congratulations, Happy Fathers Day, the sky is the limit). Use a hole punch and make 2 holes side by side at the top of each circle. Thread your ribbon through and you are done!

**REMEMBER** Mine are a little plain as they were made in a rush (the Inspire banner I did during the Farmers Market with supplies on hand) but you can get creative with it, use zig zag scissors, add embellishments, rhinestones, glitter, ric rac.....whatever you'd like just have fun creating!

Wordless Wednesday-Fun in Mommy's Make-up Bag

Nicknames? What are yours?

I always find it amazing how nicknames or pet names just seem to be born. I had always wanted to call my sons "Tiger" or "Sport" but instead different nicknames just surfaced.....I couldn't help it!

Jonas- Any version of "Boog". Boog-a-boo, Boogy Man, etc

Chase- his name just fit him to perfectly since we have never stopped chasing him around. Instead of a nickname, his name has branched out into its own type of noun, adjetive, verb......like our favorite Chaseism's!

Cooper- Chunkey Monkey (poor thing)

For me, well that is a funny story. I was born during the Star Wars Era. My mom thought the Ewoks were adorable and meant for that to be my nickname. Unfortunately, she got the names mixed up and started calling me her Wookie...which was the Chewbaca character's race. rrrrrrrr......(imagaine the Chewbaka sound)!

I would LOVE to hear about your pet names for yourself or others!!!

So excited, just can't wait

Sandi Henderson's new fabric line Farmers Market is coming available this month....yippee!!!! I have been drooling over the line since she first gave us a peek of the logo and it is almost here. I have 8 bolts coming and it was hard to narrow it down to even that...they are all so gorgeous. It may even outshine Ginger Blossom . Each time I look at the swatches I see more fabrics to order in the future!!