Hello First Day of Summer

Hello golden boy...

I'm...

playing:  lots and lots of Spongebob Memory

wanting: a pedicure and massage

needing:  to work out every day and drink more water

eating:  lots of fruit

drinking:  too much coffee and not enough water

enjoying:  watching the kids enjoy each other (when they aren't squabbling;)

not enjoying:  the 100 degree weather

wearing: tank top, old navy skirt from 3 years ago, bare feet

daydreaming:  of new things to make

anticipating:  my trip here in September

Hello First Day of Summer...

what is up your sleeve? :)

Father's Day

I wanted to get some surprise pictures for Fathers Day...of all the kids!  Carson got up early one day last week and graciously sat through 30 minutes of me snapping away...it's been a while since we've captured all the kids together!

We had a Happy Father's Day.

I hope you did too :)

Update: Pillows for Davis

Pillows for Davis is still going strong!  Thanks to your kind orders, we have been able to donate almost $800 so far to bring Davis home.  Not only that, but think about all the people who have Davis in their hearts and minds, who pray for him daily, and pray for Amy and her family as they go through the adoption process.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!

Don't forget that for the rest of the month of June, 25% of ALL proceeds from my shop go directly to Davis' adoption funds...that includes prints, checkbook covers, greeting cards, and any and all custom orders.

If you have no interest in ordering from my shop, you can also go directly to Davis' adoption fund link and donate...every penny helps!

I'm signing off until Monday...the kids have lots of activites planned and I am going to sew, sew, sew, sew!
I hope you all have a lovely Father's Day Weekend, and I'll see you in a few days  ;)

Hair

Ok, so my hair is pretty long.
When it's hanging in the back, it's past my shoulder blades.
After my third pregnancy, it got thicker, darker, and sort of wavy, but only sort of wavy in the back.
I had it short for a few years, and grew it out for Hubby, who loves it long.
I think about highlighting it sometimes, but the thought of the upkeep and cost overwhelms me.
...and in the Florida heat, most days I wear it in a ponytail or bun.

So I've been keeping a file in my pinterst boards for long hairstyles to try. 
Here are a few of my favorite ones.

So this is the one I tried first.  It was super easy.  I actually did it as soon as I got out of the shower, when it was wet.  While I was getting ready, I thought, wow, it actually looks pretty good!

And then I asked Ava to take a picture of me and I couldn't stop laughing. 

I look like I'm trying to dress up like Frida Kahlo for Halloween or something.

ha ha...Have you ever heard of this quote?

Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can.

                                                    - Elsa Maxwell

 Ok, maybe this is more like it?

So this one didn't look very good.

I'll let you know if any of the others one work.  :)

Do you cut your hair shorter in the summer?

If I was really brave I would go super short and super blond...maybe one day!

Summer Art Camp at Home

Last week we had our own art camp at home!  :)

My best friends daughter is an amazing artist, and so she came and stayed with us for a few days.  The girls had a blast.  I think it's a great way to pass a week in the summer for your kids.  It takes a few days of planning, but there are so many amazing web sites and blogs full of art projects for kids that it doesn't take too long.

They did lots and lots of drawing, coloring, and painting...

This day I had planned for them to do this project.  But after they had painted their canvases and punched out their butterflies, they wanted to do "their own thing".  :)

They made lots and lots of clay.  Both of them did Christmas themed items...snowmen and gingerbread houses.  I had ideas for them, but they wanted to do their own thing.

Mosaics!  I gave them free-for-all into my mosaic box.  It is full of broken tiles, coffee mugs, old plates, and glass beads.  This project requires extreme one-on-one parent attention, mostly for safety issues.  They needed help with the nippers.  But wow, they turned out very cool!

This was really cool!  I had no intention of teaching them how to sew, but after watching me work on Pillow for Davis, they really wanted to make their own pillows.  They were very proud of these.

Here are a few of my tips for having art camp at home:
-Have projects planned out with instructions ready
-Make sure you have all supplies necessary and organized
-Be prepared to be right there with them if they need you, but also give them freedom and room
-Remember every child is different.  Some will want to do the projects "by the book", some will want to do it "their way".  There is nothing wrong with either way :)
-Try not to take over and make it perfect.
-If you are working with more than one child, have coloring books or drawing paper nearby in case one finished before the other
-We set up a table in another room for the few days of "camp".  I wanted the table and supplies accessible to them without it all being on the kitchen table

We will definitely do this next summer!  I already have a running list of projects...

Happy Monday everyone!

Linking up here:)

It's True...

Many of you have emailed me or sent me messages on Facebook this week after a tip-off from Amazon...
So although this is not really an official announcement, I had to say, "It's True"!!
I have a new book coming out in the fall.  :)

The traditional quilt swap is being reinvented by Modern Quilters. Chrissie Grace and her contributors explore the different types of swaps with 10 different quilt projects. Each project is stepped out with clear, concise illustrated instructions on making the quilt as well as setting up a swap for that particular quilt. Each project features a photographed skills tutorial that will help the reader in making the quilt project, and will increase their skill set for use in future projects. The community aspect of quilting is brought to the book by the incorporation of popular swappers and bloggers insights into this exciting realm of shared art.

You will not believe the quilts that were made.

You will not believe the contributors that participated.  They are amazing! 

You will not believe the photography and design and illustrations...

this book is stellar.

I am super duper proud and honored to have my name on this book :)

There will be much much much more coming, but for now, the book is available for pre-order on Amazon right here.

I can't wait to share more...

But for now, I have a date with a manuscript and a highlighter.  After that, I am moonlighting as a pillow maker!  Ha!  Hubby is taking over the house and kids tomorrow so I can work.

Have a wonderful, blessed weekend friends :)

Me Never Make Cookie Monster Cupcakes Never Again

We finally finished up our Summer Fun List!  What would all us mothers do if Meg had not shared the idea with us???  ;)

The first thing the kids wanted to do was make cookie monster cupcakes...I had shown them the pictures from pinterest and they could not stop talking about it!

No, I will never make them again.  I am not very good at decorating baked items.  But they loved them!!  ...and they had fun making them, so it was definitely worth it :)

By the way, have you seen the "new" cookie monster?

Rumor is a few years ago the cookie monster was evolving into the veggie monster to stop promoting obesity in America.

I had to google it and find out what the truth was.

"In a 2010 episode, a group of vegetables threaten to leave Sesame Street because they aren't treated well. One offender shown is Cookie, who eats piles of cookies instead of a plate of veggies. Chris convinces him to eat them by having him pretend that they're cookies. Afterward, Cookie states "But remember, me not Veggie Monster. Me still Cookie Monster. Just for record. Me got reputation to think of."

Whew.  Thank goodness.  :)
Happy Wednesday!