Just popping in to say I’ll be taking a little hiatus from blogging.  Truthfully I’m taking a hiatus from all things computer related.  Nothing to be alarmed about   I just have some projects and things I need to focus on and it seemed like a good time to step back for awhile.  Plus, between Facebook, Pinterest, sewing blogs, and Xanga, I can get a little too tied the the computer

Blogging has always been a fun creative outlet for me.  A place to chronicle our daily comings and goings.  I don’t have any intentions of stopping anytime soon!  I’ll be checking my messages now and again if you need to get a hold of me. 

See in December!  Much love, April

Just popping in to say I’ll be taking a little hiatus from blogging.  Truthfully I’m taking a hiatus from all things computer related.  Nothing to be alarmed about   I just have some projects and things I need to focus on and it seemed like a good time to step back for awhile.  Plus, between Facebook, Pinterest, sewing blogs, and Xanga, I can get a little too tied the the computer

Blogging has always been a fun creative outlet for me.  A place to chronicle our daily comings and goings.  I don’t have any intentions of stopping anytime soon!  I’ll be checking my messages now and again if you need to get a hold of me. 

See in December!  Much love, April

I had this post planned for Show & Tell Wednesday, but a class field trip and sick kiddos put me a day behind.  So today I’m breaking out of the mold, going hog wild and doing Show & Tell on Thursday.  What can I say, I’m wild, I’m a rebel (not really… in fact I’m the complete opposite of that. I am rule follower, because after all that’s what they’re for.)

This is a little sneak peak at some things I’ve been working on for the last week.

I was invited to take part in Ladies Night Out next Thursday night.  Ladies Night Out is a fun event hosted at Jake’s Coffee in Ripon (CA).  Vendors set up tables with their wears, and people are able to shop while enjoying fresh coffee and delicious coffee-house treats.  It happens once a month, but this is my first time to participate and I am so excited!  I’ve been busy making hair clips, infant headbands, pins and even doing a little sewing.  I’m hoping to have some more Sunday-go-to-meetin’ bags done by Thursday as well.

Here’s some of the pieces I’ve made so far~

A wide variety of hair clips in lots of fresh, fun colors.  I really had fun this time experimenting with different techniques and materials.  I pulled out everything I had!  The sewing room was quite the site.

I also made some larger flowers with pins on the back.  I thought they would be really pretty on a scarf or jacket.

I made a few infant headbands, I might try to make a few more.

I didn’t want to leave you high and dry without any creative inspiration.  So, I thought i would show you how to make a basic flower rosette.   

I think these are even easier than the folded rose tutorial I did a few months ago.  They’re fun little flowers that can be made to look dressy or playful.  You can use a variety of fabrics (cotton, silk, satin, linen) and you can add little trinkets to the center.

First step: The Supplies

You will also need a glue gun and a sewing machine. 

The 2×32 inch measurement doesn’t need to be precise.  You don’t have to get your straight edge and measuring tape out (unless you like that sort of thing, then by all means have at it).  A strip this wide and long will make a rose that is about 3 inches in diameter.  Longer and wider will make bigger and fatter roses.

Now, fold your fabric in half and lay the netting on top of the fabric.  The fabric is folded over but the netting is not.

Set your machine to the longest stitch setting it has.  DO NOT backstitch! Leave a long tail string, you will need that to gather the material.  Stitch the length of the strip.  Sew closely to the unfinished edge of the material.  Once you get to the end of the strip, do not backstitch, and leave another long tail string.

Hold your fabric in one hand and pull on one of the threads.  Holding the thread tightly, carefully push and gather the layers of fabric with the other hand.

It will look like this when it’s all gathered up.

Now to make the rosette:

Start at one end and make a small tight spiral.  Place a dab of hot glue along the bottom of the spiral to secure it.

Keep spiraling the fabric around the center.  Place a bead of hot glue all along the bottom edge to hold the shape of the rose.

As you spiral gradually flatten the “petals” out.  This will take a little practice but you’ll get the hang of it quickly.

This is what it looks like from the back.

Keep going until you run out of fabric or you like the size of the flower.  Take the unfinished edge and glue it behind the rose.

Next, hot glue the felt circle to the back of the flower.  This hides the stitching and gathers, and gives you a flat, even place to glue the clip.

Using the super glue, glue the hair clip (or pin) to the center of the circle.

All finished!  I recommend making a bunch of roses, sticking them on everything in sight, and giving them to everyone you know.

Have fun playing around and experimenting!  ~April

Post titles I considered for this post:  “Falling for Fall”,  “Orange you glad it’s Fall?!”,  or “Obligatory Pumpkin Patch photo-op”.   Pretty cringe-worthy right?  This is what happens when you are at home with preschool-aged children all day and your vocabulary starts to deteriorate.  When the only jokes you know start with “Knock-knock” or rely heavily on puns.

Nevertheless, we have been doing a lot of fall-ish type things these days.  Even busted out the apple cider this morning.  The house has been festively adorned with pumpkins, wheat, leaves and the like.  Justin brought the pellet stove in from the shed and stocked up on pellets.  Drawers are slowly being filled with long-sleeved shirts, pants, and sweaters.

I’m pretty sure I like decorating for fall more than I do Christmas… in fact I’m certain I do.

 We also went to the pumpkin patch with Jude’s class~

Brought home some pretty cute pumpkins

Now if we could just get some nice fall weather.  Upper 70′s, lower 80′s are lovely temperatures unless you are longing for cold days, a good rain to wash off the harvest dust, and reason to sit by a nice warm fire. 

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

One thing I love about going away is coming home.  Somehow the familiar ebb and flow of everyday life feels sweeter, pillows are softer, home looks homier.   I suppose that is what a rested body and mind will do for a person

Anyway, that’s what I’ve done for the last week, I’ve enjoyed just being home.  Three little bodies piled on me while I read bedtime stories.

Plus, fun things have been happening at home!  We have a new, spacious back porch…

…with lovely double doors leading out onto it.  I am picturing rocking chairs, hanging flower baskets, a red table and mix matches painted chairs for enjoying diner on the porch… yes it all looks lovely in my head

The weather as finally dipped down into the 70′s during the day.  The evenings are chilly.  Which means enjoying warm, slow-cooked meals, soups and homemade bread again!

My bread making assistants.  Gideon was determined to sit and watch the bread rise until it doubled.  He lasted about 3.5 minutes.

He wandered back in time to punch the dough down and help roll them into dinner rolls.

I also tried a new recipe for homemade cheese crackers.  I found the recipe on Pinterest.  I have been lured into the wonderful, addicting, time sucking, inspirational, black hole that is Pinterest.  If you’re interested you can find me here.

They turned out really well.  Very easy to make, just 5 ingredients, they were a big hit with the kids.  Next time I need to roll them out thinner though.

I took Eliza girl to get her hair cut for the first time.  I’ve been cutting it since she was a baby, but it’s gotten so much thicker and she’s gotten squirmier, so I thought it was time to bring in the professionals.

Can you see the look of apprehension written all over her face?

At first she didn’t even want to sit in the chair, but Liz brought out the bowl of suckers and suddenly Miss Eliza got very cooperative.  I wanted a simple A-line cut with some little bangs.  Simple and sweet, classic little girl style…

I really love the way it frames her little face!

And here they all are lined up ready for Awana Night… looking fresh-faced and darling!  This is the very first year they have all gone to Awanas.  The boys love it and Eliza loves it once she’s there   And Justin and I love having a weeknight to ourselves!

So that’s it.  All the big news from our little corner of the world!  See you again soon, April