A Forest Frolic

Snakes & Dinos & Monsters...oh my

Sheesh, has it been a week since my last post!?  For some reason, I still feel like I'm in the holiday rush and am not getting much time on the computer.  But I'm here now, and I wanted to share this slimy guy I got a shot of, from our Zoo Lights Trip a few weeks ago (isn't he the prettiest color?)...

Remember that creepy story I promised to share?  I guess it's not all that creepy, but I had been editing photos and after spending an hour in the reptile house with creatures like this, I had this dream...ya know, one of those dreams that seems so surreal!  I was in a snake infested place and got bit by a poisonous snake.  My girls were there and I was trying to save them and get them away from all the snakes, meanwhile my body was starting to go numb from the venom.  Could you imagine?  Oh it was horrible.

Better yet, could you imagine being alive during the time of dinosaurs?  My man and I were talking about that after seeing this guy (he was way bigger in person, than he looks in this picture)...

As for the Monsters, I made these for Christmas gifts for many of the kiddos in my life...

Not my original idea, and I don't sell these, because I got the idea from this sweet shop, and it looks like she's got a few for sale now...but they go fast, so snag one if you can!

I do have plans to make some plush for the shop in the future.  I'm in the process of coming up with some designs, so stay tuned!

...Dreams do come true (Amy Butler fabric).

...Fairy Tale Friends (fabric by Heidi Kenney, found at Spoonflower).

...Pure Joy & Happiness (more Amy Butler).

...Happy (even more Amy Butler, you know I love me some Amy Butler designs ;)

Hugs to you my dear friends,

Jamie :)

Panda Cakies & Happy Snowpeople Cupcake Toppers

How did this happen!?!  I haven't blogged in almost a week (I miiiiss you) & I forgot to show you the cake I made a couple of weeks ago for my 10-year-old's birthday...

(Panda sculpture by Paper Sparrow and cake made my me :)

It's been one of 'those' weeks.  Ya know...the ones where you ask yourself, wait...what am I doing?  What is my purpose here and what is MOST important in my life? 

I've homemade a new recipe every night this week (yum), I've upkept the house (laundry, dishes, etc) and carved out time for each child (and the hubs ;) individually,...all is well on the homefront.  I've even made time for my girlfriends, ahem...WorkoutMommy, which was a blast... I might ad.

But, I have to find a balance...I WILL find a balance.  I am craving some creative time, but by the time we get the girls in bed, I'm beat!  I'm a night owl.  How can I be beat?  I've got a gazillion ideas swirling in this noggin' ready to be made and put in the shop, like these 'Happy Snowpeople Cupcake Toppers'...

And I've got even more to make as Christmas gifts.  I'm looking forward to Christmas though, even with my high expectations of making many of the gifts!  I'm ready to decorate the tree and wrap gifts.  I'm knitting, crafting, and working my fingers to the bone on gifts and have been shopping this week too.  I got some super cute things I can't mention yet, on Etsy ;) 

I'm realizing a lot more people read this blog than I ever imagined (which I am thrilled about), so I can't tell ya too much about the things I'm making until after Christmas.  I need to make time to check out my analytics more often ;)

Jamie :)

Laundry Day ~ Embroidery Project in Progress

No...I'm not going to show you the super huge pile of laundry starting to pile up (but I know you'd just love to see it ;)  We took our younger two girls 'shopping' in the basement last week, for fall and winter clothes.  Oh, the perks of having 3 girls. 

It's so fun to reminisce while going through their old outfits and telling them how cute they were when they did this, or that, in it.  And telling them that 'sissy' used to wear that and see them smile, just melts my heart.

So, in the last few days, I've laundered 6 loads of hand-me-downs and 3 loads of towels, bathing suits, and dirty camping clothes from the weekend (yep, that's where our fun was had.

I've got laundry on the brain and when I came across this embroidery pattern, I couldn't resist.  I've been wanting to start a new project...ya know, because if I don't have like 50 projects going on at one time, I don't know what to do with myself.

And so I did...

Now, If you need a fun embroidery project to add to your list, check out alittlesweetness on Etsy.

Some other patterns that have me drooling are: Dream Garden, Woodland Cuties, and Her Month by Month.

I'll be back soon with photos of our beach camping fun and FINALLY, a closer look at the new studio.

Jamie :)

Studio Snippets ~ Frills, Ink & Glitter

I've been wanting to share my new studio with you, but I've been procrastinating...yep, story of my life ;)  I've gotten many 'anxiously awaiting' e-mails (because you guys are awesome ;) so I figured I better give you a wee snippet to tide you over, until I can post the real deal...

Even though it's pretty much complete, there are still a few touches here and there I'd like to work on.  And...I'm having a hard time getting pictures that I'm happy with.

These flowers, I picked up on our trip to San Diego and I like them a whole lot.  I glimmer misted and glittered them up with lots of crystal glitter, even though you can't tell from the picture.  I think they made the perfect touch to this cabinet...

 

I love looking at others art & craft spaces...how about you!?  I recently picked up the latest issue of 'Where Women Create' and it has such inspiring articles and pictures in it...including a taste of Amy Butler's space...oooh la la ;)

I wanted to take a second to say thank you.  I appreciate the comments and e-mails you've sent and am flattered, even if just one of you is inspired by something I post.  I come here, to my little corner of the internet, because I enjoy sharing what inspires me, things we make, and tid-bits of our little life...and in that, hoping that you may be inspired too.  I've made some really great friends in the process and have been super inspired by your blogs and such too, which makes it all worth while.

Now, with that being said...I'm logging off for the weekend, because I have a really great family that is begging to have some super duper fun!  And I'm going to give them just that.

Jamie :)

p.s. be back soon to tell you all about it ;)

And they're off...

...to their first day of school.  Wearing their cool new shoes...

...and their cool new attitudes.  Ms. 4th grader is too cool to kiss mommy before she gets on the bus, yet doesn't forget to turn and wave with a big smile right before she gets on :)

And Ms. Kindergartner is so excited, she almost forgets to say 'good-bye' before she runs as fast as she can to the door of the bus when it pulls up.  She has been waiting for this moment forever and is finally glad it's here (hopefully she'll still be as enthusiastic getting off the bus too).

Baby has her book-bag packed (with a family picture) and is waiting patiently for the bus.  She really thinks she is getting on with her sisters, which makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time (because it won't be long)...

So, right now, the two of us are a bit lost, and are sticking stickers all over the wood floor to keep ourselves entertained.  I think we are going to run some errands to keep our minds off of our girls being away (as if I don't have a million things around here I could be doing).

I took the holiday weekend 'off' and hosted our families 10th annual 'Scrapfest!'  We had lots of scrap-booking, memory sharing, and yummy treats...a fun time for all involved!  I just can't believe it's September already and school is back in session...although I'm enjoying the cool mornings where I can sit on the porch for a bit.  I love fall and this time of year, but honestly...where does the time go?

Jamie :)