Laundry...

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Yesterday morning I lost it.  It was probably one of those accumulation of stress things but yesterday as my 8 year old son with tears in his eyes because he couldn't find clean pants...well it was the last straw.  I love to do laundry, really I do.  What I hate is the overwhelming amount I have to do, combined with the fact that even in our small house I still have to hunt down the dirty clothes.  Or that it isn't until they're out of clothes, and we have to leave in 10 minutes that they inform me that they have no clean clothes.

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As for the tearful child above...do not feel sorry for him.  Why?  Because he did have clean pants, he just didn't want to wear them.  Because he knew when he pulled out the last pair of pants that he has to tell me.  Though mostly, because he hardly ever puts his pants away where they should go.

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So I made a decision.  I'm not doing their laundry anymore.  I'm cutting my laundry down to 4 people and household.  Mine, Husband's, Elsa and Thaddeus, but only until the kids turn 5.  Then I'm cutting them loose too!  From here on out Lincoln, Samuel and Vinny will wash their own clothes, fold them and put them away.  If they don't have clean clothes.  Not my fault.  For those who live by us, you are forewarned about boys in dirty clothes, running naked or in just their underoos :)

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I am a woman with a plan just the same.  This weekend I'll be pouring through my fabric stash and making up some laundry bags for them each to keep their clothes separate.  I'm planning on using the pattern from Rae found in 101 One-Yard Wonders.  Then I'm going to give each of the kids a day of the week to wash their laundry...I'll keep you all posted on the progress.  Which to be honest right now isn't going so well.  Lincoln has been folding for almost an hour and isn't even half way done...aiyaya!  Still I'm determined!

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I hope you all have a great weekend and that you too can come to a resolution of the dreaded Mt. Washmore as my friend Shannon calls it.  Has anyone else ever tried this?  Please share your successes or failures with me so we can all learn together.

A Little Bit of Everything

source sheandherdarkness.tumblr.com via allison vieger via Pinterest

No, I haven't forgotten you my lovelies!  However, blogger was having issues Thursday and Friday and I opted to skip the headache and hang out with my kiddos.  This weekend we had a bridal shower at the church in which I was finishing up the gift Saturday along with writing the devotional for the shower.  Pics of the gift to come and hopefully this week I can get a quick edit of the devo I wrote and post it all for you to read here.  I also decided to make a dress for Sunday, so you can imagine that everything I had been doing got pushed to the side.  Oh well, life moves on.

Today's post is gonna be more of an informational post than anything.

1. Weigh In Tuesday- I have not abandoned my goal.  No, I've been thinking and brainstorming and have decided to take the rest of this month get a really good plan written out.  Don't worry I'm not eating everything in sight, though I am struggling with the water again.  Tips on that anyone?  I'd love some free advice about how to stay hydrated.

2. In addition to jump starting my weight loss goals, next month I will be doing another form of weight loss…a HOUSE PURGE! Yes, just like last august…only better, more detailed, more fun and I really hope you all join in with me.  I plan on having a few giveaways too, so stay tuned.

3. Thaddeus is walking.  No I haven't recorded it yet…as soon as I whip out my cell phone he starts crawling.

4. Our camera broke.  I was handing it off to Husband and we both dropped it…no one really to blame but slippery fingers.  Problem is to get it fixed will cost $$$ but we don't want to spend it.  We could probably try to fix it ourselves but that would void the warranty, which wouldn't be a problem if we bought it last year but we didn't.  We've had it about 6 weeks.  So frustrating.

5. I'm working on a dress design.  So excited.

Well, that is about all I have today.  I hope the weather has been nice wherever you are.

{{hugs}}
Buffy

Random Monday.

Okay, so although my goal is to post once a week that doesn't mean I can't post more often should I feel the need.  I love reading the Yarn Harlot and a few times a month she has 'Random Monday' posts...totally took her title, but only because it fits.

1. Seriously thinking about opening an Etsy shop to sell knitting bags.

2. I think I'm crazy for wanting to do this...really when will have time to sew knitting bags to sell?!?!

3. Completely disappointed in the quality of fabric of children clothes...really disappointed.  Lincoln got a new shirt for Christmas and it already has a hole in it from the fabric running...ICK! (sorry Mom)

4. This disappointment makes me want to make all my kids clothes from here on out!

5. What!?!?!  Make all the kids clothes...including jeans?  CRAZY!  I tell you I'm looney.

6. Working on a pair of pants for Elsa that have a zipper fly...hope to have them done soon.

7. Thinking of posting pictures of FO (finished objects) on Saturdays...call it Showcase Saturdays...whatcha think?

8. Priced denim fabric yesterday...in town I can get it for $8.98 a yard...55-60 inches wide...um hello not that expensive (I buy the boys good jeans...it is a must).

9. Have you seen Fishsticks Design Patterns?  No?  You really should they are awesome!

10. I want this, this, this and this one...oooh and I can't wait for this patttern and this one to be released (um yes you must check the links).

11.  Papa yes this is a hint...oh well it is a hint for everyone.

12. Still thinking about sewing clothes for the boys & Elsa...have some really neat fabric right next to me that I will attempt to make into pants for Samuel (yes with the zipper fly too)

13. Received 2 emails last week about gluten free cooking (no I'm not upset).

14. Both emails were a complete surprise...really you'd think after 3 years I'd be used to people's question about our diet...nope not yet.

15. Makes me wonder if I should post more on our diet...oops one more thing for that to-do list...

16. I'm sick today.  Only plans are to do my BSF lesson and knit.

17. I have started on the Christmas Knitting.

18. Yup, still thinking about that business venture

19. We're I'm going recover our couch next month...super excited!

20. Gotta go the Baby needs a nap!

Well I'm up to something...

If you haven't noticed I've been doing a little rearranging here on the blog.  Not sure where I get it from, but I don't really like things to stay the same for too long.  However, I am trying to make things look nicer, more polished and definitely inviting. 

I have something planned for the holidays so you'll just have to come back soon to find out what it is...though I'm sure you could make an educated guess by the top button on my sidebar.

I certainly have been learning a lot about design and layout for blogging and I am having a rather nice time.  I hope you all enjoy the changes and I promise soon I'll have some pictures up for you all.

Blogs, tea, and a quick project

I am so enamored with blogs.  I love reading them.  I love posting on mine.  I love how you can get to know people you might never meet this side of heaven.  The truth in the statement that 'It's a small world after all' is so very true! 

Now I'm not rambling about blogs for the sake of rambling.  No, I actually have a point...blogs give me inspiration for projects.  The pictures also inspire me to take better pictures too, but then I digress.  Anyway, my latest project was a tea wallet.

As you may remember from this post that I had joined in with luvinthemommyhood's tea cup month.  Well Shannon posted an farewell post that had a picture of this project which I immediately put on my MUST MAKE NEXT list.  What I found so amazing is that the project had been a linked project from this blog.  I think that it is so AWESOME how a project can be posted and then linked by people all over the world.  I don't have to read every craft and sewing blog to get ideas from people.  This is just so cool!

So then last night about 9:30ish and nothing is on the television but I'm not ready to go to bed I decide why don't I just make that tea wallet.  I go and dig (alright I pick my two favorite fabrics from the top of the pile) and start in on it.  The fabrics were both cotton so I did use  interfacing.  I sewed it all up, attached the button and Voila!  before 10:30 it was finished...complete with tea bags.  Husband wasn't as thrilled about it as I was but I wasn't too surprised about that.

So I suppose I shouldn't torment you any longer and just post the pictures :)

There you have it!  A quick project.  The only modification is I used elastic for the button closure rather than ribbon or fabric.  I like elastic better because it is so much smaller and easier to open and keep closed.

I promise to report back about my challenge but I have a plan for how I want to do it and well, it's gonna take just a little bit of time.

It's Almost Summer!

Okay, let me just start by saying how excited I am that I only have a week left of school! Really, I am ready to be done for a while (haha, I still have like three classes I want to take). However, I am so ready to pull out my sewing machine and just start making things. Elsa Bear is a solid 2T-extra long. Yup. I can put a 2T shirt on her and it fits perfectly around her the length...well it could use a couple inches. She has several jumper that I need to add like a 3-4 inch ruffle on because...that girl moves and up her dress goes. Some of you might be thinking "just go up a size" sorry no. can. do. For a few reasons
1) 3T is too big around and she looks like a little waif in it (especially with her dirt smudged face)
2) Even going up a size isn't really long enough
3) I'll stress this as the most important of all reasons: I CAN SEW! Why should I settle for what could work when I can have what does work.

I also just got a copy of a Ottobre magazine and let me say I'm dying to try out the patterns...yet I haven't been able to get to them between cleaning the house and school. Plus Husband's work schedule hasn't been ideal for any sewing except on his days off, which ironically I don't sew then either because I'm either spending time with him or catching up on cleaning or homework. However, Husband's schedule is change *crossing fingers* hopefully for the last time. He is now in tech support vs. standard customer service so he'll be working afternoon/evenings which will be nice for the summer...I might not be so strict with the bedtime...I'll have to think about it.

All in all I have a to do sewing list at least a mile long...we'll see how much I get done. Besides all that I am woefully behind in my mitten of the month club. Oh well okay like 1 1/2 behind. Something about having a baby and my wayward knitting heart being pulled toward other projects...one of which is a shrug for ME! I am less than an inch away from being done with the back, that I started on Tuesday! I'm so excited. Pics to come soon.

Well, I should sign off as the kiddos are starting to revolt. Besides I still need to get going for the day...Hope yours is blessed!

Yes I know I didn't post any pics...I promise next time I will.