a toast to things to come...

fabric applique and embroidery hoop art work-in-progress for my shop

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song..."

-Maya Angelou

May you find your song and passion this coming year!

Happy New Year!

Weapons of Mass Craftiness

My apologies for the cheesy title :) But I love cheesy and my new crafty tools so I had to share!

Watch out, world! I have a yo-yo maker and pins!

(What can I do with those, you ask?)

I am so glad you asked :) How about a cute yo-yo and felt holly pin for the holidays?

Or how about a cute little wristlet to keep mommy's goodies in...with a fun flower made of fabric, felt and, yes...wait for it...a yo-yo!

Some really small things make me happy...polka dots and my little labels to name two!

AND, if you feel like adding a little fabric and felt bling to your outfit, just un-pin the flower from your bag and pin it to your clothes! How cool is that? (My husband tells me it is NOT as cool as I seem to think it is, but, darn it, I am proud of myself!)

What crafty tools are YOU using nowadays? Tell me about them so that I can know (um, so that I can go buy them and try 'em out)!

sacred moments...

I recently watched Stephanie Nielsen on the Oprah show (read her story here) and was struck by a phrase that was used to describe the day to day activities of a stay-at-home mom. A viewer had written in to the Oprah show describing how she hated being at home. While "hate" has never been a descriptor that I would have used to describe my feelings during this transition, I did relate to some of the frustrations that the viewer described. She visited the getting-famous blogger, Nielsen, in her home and watched her interact with her children and go about her day despite severe and painful burns all over her body. She cannot hold her children and has to wear hospital gloves to bathe them. She cannot open simple ziploc bags while packing their school lunches. The viewer was impacted on how she never realized how sacred these moments were with her children...

Sacred...

That word invokes thoughts and feelings of spirituality. That word invokes thoughts of a Holy Ground that requires reverence. But doesn't the Home deserve that reverence? Doesn't the Home deserve the honor of being the place we come to find solice and serenity that the world tries to steal from us?

Even though the past days have been a bit trying for all of us in our home, I hope that I remember the sacred moments that I get to share and enjoy each day at home...

Harboring a slight addiction to crafty magazines and books...enjoyed with a cup of coffee

Homemade marshmallows...dipped in chocolate with peppermint on top

Holding my sleeping son during naptime

Dreaming about what goals and ambitions I have for my creative adventures

Memory Lane...

Recently, I asked a fellow Etsy Homefront Team member what type of uniform was in this pcture, because I didn't recognize it. (While my mother would point out that my dating history should be evidence of some sort of expertise in uniforms, I will confess that I can't read rank, rate or any other pertinent information that I am probably supposed to know...) My husband has changed uniforms more times than I can remember...but I will always be a little nostalgic about that young 21 year old sailor in a dixie cup hat that I fell in love with...

Returning home from our first deployment together-we made USA Today's top pictures of the year with our kiss!

Last "ship" deployment...I guess I can get used to the tan and the new hat...

What all the cool (hot?) sailors are wearing today...

My sailor has reenlisted in that dixie cup, traded a uniform for tshirt and jeans when the Navy put him through college, put on the shoulder boards that came with an officer's commission and traded the "haze gray" Navy for the the "brown water" Navy. No matter what uniform he has worn, he proudly follows in his grandfather's footsteps...and the footsteps of all the men and women who have worn the many uniforms of the Armed Services.

May we remember all of those in uniform as we approach this Christmas, particularly if they are away from home during this time. And may we also remember the families, who may not wear the uniform themself, but look forward to the day that their loved one returns home wearing theirs.

I am a business lady who lunches...

or at least drinks coffee. For those who have known me a long time, this is a new phenomenon. I still only appreciate my coffee with equal parts creamer, whipped cream and with chocolate sprinkles on top, but caffiene has truly become my friend on the mornings after late nights sewing...

I am part of the Homefront Team on Etsy and I am super happy to be apart of such a smart, supportive, and talented group of people who happen to also be military spouses. They announced their "Bits and Pieces Challenge" shortly after I became a member and I knew I wanted to participate...but what to make? What better than the perfect pair of patchwork accessories to celebrate being a new business woman (who relies on alot of coffee!)

Coffee Couture with a little patchwork pouch

the cozy is reversible and my new business cards fit perfectly inside




Made from Moda Momo Wonderland fabric scraps from a baby quilt made months ago...

If you think my little patchwork creation deserves to win, just go to the photos on the Homefront Team's Facebook page, click on the photos and leave a comment to vote for me. However, there are some VERY talented ladies that have created some amazing entries, so check out them all before you vote...

It "felt" like Christmas today!

Well, maybe it wasn't "Baby, it's cold outside" weather but I officially have ONE decoration up! This felt wreath with fabric yo-yo's handstitched on felt flowers was super easy to make! And the felt is made with recycled plastic bottles- how cool is that!

Vintage Quilt Finds...

While in Florida for Thanksgiving, I found these amazing quilt tops in an antique store...

Quilt tops fascinate me...why weren't they finished? What is the story behind the person who put it together? Where did they get the fabrics? The day dreamin' about its history is endless...

So many textures and colors on this fan pattern quilt top!

Check out this loud 9-patch quilt! It has such great traditional, subdued prints mixed with loud, bright prints. And that gold plaid? So much fun!

You can almost feel the polyester pants that the quilter was wearing when they made this!

Want to know why I fell in love with this loud quilt top? Check out those hand stitches!

I can't wait to add some modern fabrics to these and see how they turn out!

Daddy DIY bed and a little quilt

I do still create for my little camper :)

Since daddy never offers to do any crafting project with me, I jumped on the chance to do a DIY project with him. He saw this bed online and we headed to Lowes to get all the supplied. It really was super cheap and easy to put together (especially when Denyse Schmidt home dec weight fabric was on super clearance!). However, it needed a little quilt to go on it to make it even more special...

I put together this quilt for E and his new bed...now, if I could only get him to sleep somewhere other than OUR bed!

Crafty thoughts...creating for others

Before I "had a business" (when will I feel comfortable enough saying that where I don't put quotation marks around that?) I crafted for myself and my camper. (The co-director doesn't quite appreciate manly crafty things...) Sometimes, I would participate in crafty "swaps" where I would make things for strangers and their families and someone would mail something to me. The police detective in me had to overcome some jaded distrust issues to do this, but these swaps gave me a huge amount of satisfaction! I had to get creative about what THEY would like (not just want I liked) and what would work for their family. It truly pushed me beyond my comfort level and challenged me.

Unlike my mother, I am NOT a person with a natural servant/giver's heart. I confess to strongly disliking all holidays that require gift giving. But the creative process in creating for strangers was different than creating for those that know me. It was that fun sort of stressful...you know...the one where you have the greatest reward when you are done! This week, I launched Camp Cupcake Designs and the rewards have already started coming in. I have had a couple of sales but the coolest part to me is that people want me to create for them. My napkins have proved to be one of my "hot items" and I am working on some custom orders for people.

People want me to create for them...How awesome is that?

Be sweet and sustainable!

Camp Cupcake has officially launched! I have added a few items to my store and can't wait to add more products to encourage sweet sustainable living...

Amy Butler print burp and wash cloth set

patchwork burp and wash cloth set

Heather Ross patchwork burp and wash cloth set

Adult napkin set

And our feature product: preschool picnic mats

Please follow this site or follow Camp Cupcake on Twitter for future giveaways, product announcements and free shipping offers!

What do you do when the rain stops?

you go exploring!

We discovered new friends (and this guy was REALLY big!)

We found a broken baseball and we discovered what was inside! (I must say that my husband truly has the most inquisitive spirit...and I love that so much about him...)

We found holly high in a tree (did you know it was endangered?) and dreamed about Christmas.

It had rained here for 3 days straight, so it was amazing to see blue skys at the top of these evergreens...

We carried a bag and Elijah got to pick up whatever he "discovered" on our walk. It was truly touching that he didn't always pick up the prettiest leaf or piece of bark but found each piece he did find to be worthy of equal "oooh-ing" and "ahhhh-ing." It was a great lesson for us big kids and a fun time for the little camper.

Gentlemen, start your engines!

So...the first Camp Cupcake Designs products are going out today! Yeah! They are going to dear friends that will be providing feedback on products themself, packaging and pictures taken (how they represent what they got, are they good for marketing, etc.) I have set up my etsy shop (campcupcakedesigns.etsy.com) BUT there is currently no inventory listed. I have to write my return policies and take care of other business before I "launch" officially. However, Hidden Talents (a military spouse run craft consignment store whose profits go to charity!) is about to have their annual craft show and I would like to get some Camp Cupcake gear into the show...so I am first concentrating on finishing the required 15 items for them.

I washed and ironed over 10 yards of awesome fabric today so I am hitting the ground running!

finally...it's fall!

Remember how I said (um, complained...) that it was still warm here? Well, we are starting to feel a tad bit of a nip in the air and I thought it was the perfect time to fix something with my favorite fall ingredient: pumpkin!

I followed this recipe from The Pioneer Woman's blog for pumpkin butter...

I stirred up the ingredients, made myself some coffee and put the butter on top of a whole wheat english muffin. The pumpkin butter filled every nook and cranny on that muffin...mmmmmmm...

Doesn't it look good? I highly recommend it and it is a healthy, vitamin and fiber-rich topping that tastes like fall!

Guess what I did while I ate this yummy treat? I wrote a business plan. Stay tuned for more details!

brought to you by the letter E...

We follow the preschool prep curriculum from Letter of the Day and we have a blast doing it. I admit to slacking on the last couple of weeks but it is fun putting together our board each week.

Sourdough bread in the making...E comments that raw sourdough bread dough is NOT good but tastes delicious with homemade broccoli and cheese soup for dinner. Mmmmmm...

We made a lighthouse for craft time today. Well, it was supposed to be a lighthouse...it turned out to be a strange cylinder with random scissor cuts with a flashlight inside. However, this is AWESOME fun when you are two and getting to play with the flashlight in the dark bathroom...

mommy craft time in progress

I have no idea what I will put in this cute little bag. It still needs a button attached but I am pretty happy with it! I confess to having a bit of an obsession with Moda pre-cut fabrics and absolutely LOVE all the little projects you can make with them so easily!

Jackson Pollack in training...

I think I may have an abstract expressionist on my hands...

Shake and Bake, baby...

Can you guess what the lil' man was for Halloween?

The cutest Race Car Driver! (complete with his favorite "Dale Car" in tow)

Our neighborhood had an afternoon costume parade, which was most popular with the baby and toddler set. E was completely amazed at the amount of candy!

We also attended a festival at a park and the bouncy house was the favorite activity for this little driver...

E was all smiles on the hay ride before deciding that it was difficult for mom and dad to find a time out spot on a crowded trailer and became a crazy man... Two is such a fun age!