Happy Little Chefs Birthday Party 101

I know it’s taken me awhile to get back to sharing all the details from the girls party. I have had a lot going on. Dealing with a husband who has been in training a lot lately and our crazy schedules. I mean, seriously, he came home with band-aids on his wrists because they got cut up while they were in defensive tactics practicing handcuffing. Playing a bit rough aren’t we boys? I’ve been working like mad on fabric designs and trying to decide on what to present for my first line, planning for Quilt Market including things like little giveaways, booth design, and of course, product! I have an appointment with one of the fabric companies on the first day of Market to present my designs so I’m super excited that truly, this Fall, I may have my very own line! That would be a dream come true! And the baby, well, she finally got up and crawled this week and started to pull herself up to a stand all within days of each other. So, keeping up with her just got a whole lot harder. So, as I do all day while I’m working either on campus or in my studio, I’m usually listening to music on my iphone. Quite frankly, as my husband says, I’m addicted to it. My iphone is never far from my hand – I do love it. And I like to share what I’m listening to because it inspires me and keeps me focused through the day. Lately it’s been Mercy Me and one of my favorites of the week has been a song called “Bring the Rain”.   I love this song, especially when I have had an especially trying week, and it just makes me feel stronger. You’ll love it, check it out.

Little Chefs…oh yes! The twins had a great 8th birthday party. I’ll give you my “Party 101” details on what we did and maybe you’ll find some ideas to use for the next party you host. First, we sent out invitations on little note cards that looked like recipe cards and said something about good food, add friends, mix well for a great birthday celebration. We added 3D cupcake stickers to them.

For each girl, I made them an apron and an apron for their American Girl doll.  (You can find your own on my etsy site).   I just used up scraps from my scrap basket and other old fabrics. I added a pocket for each girl and appliquéd their initial on the front panel. As each girl arrived, my girls gave them their aprons to put on.

Once everyone was here, we got started on making our lunch. I used little Dixie cups to put each serving of ingredient for each girl. We made chicken enchiladas and I just brought out each ingredient one at a time and had them add, mix and then stuff their tortillas. We put them in one big casserole and then left them to bake.

While lunch was cooking, we decorated cupcakes. I had purchased treat boxes that held 4 cupcakes per box. We had mounds of different types of candies and frostings so they could decorate their treats. I must say, a lot of candy did not make it to the cupcakes but got eaten instead! They loved getting to be creative. I gave them a few ideas and they were off and running. I had set the table with 2 sets of tablecloths. The bottom layer was a vinyl tablecloth we keep. The top was a plastic disposable table covering. When they were all done with the baking and cupcake decorating…I left the entire mess on the table and just wrapped it up in the table covering and tossed the whole thing. It was great! Then, underneath, I had a nice clean table ready for lunch. The girls went off and played for about 10 minutes while I set the table and got the rest of the food out.

I had just a simple centerpiece which consisted of wooden spoons with the chicken enchilada recipe attached. This was one of the favors the girls took home. I also had playdough thinking we would make mini treats for the dolls but we ran out of time so they just took that home with them. I had treat bags to pack their aprons in as well that had cupcakes on them and pretty much their favors were their apron sets.

After lunch, we did an egg relay race. They had to balance a plastic easter egg on a spoon and go on a course through our house. They were nuts doing this and had a lot of fun. We opened gifts and then they played out in the girls playhouse for a bit and that was it. 2 ½ hours went by really fast and my girls said they had a great time.

So as I sit here trying to write this I can hear the baby up in her bed, NOT sleeping because she has just learned to stand and so guess what she’s doing besides sleeping…oh yes, standing in bed and talking. I can’t even lay her down, she instantly rolls over and grabs the rails to pull up. Any suggestions? This is short lived right because it’s a new trick? The other two are running around this afternoon avoiding chores. Of course, they are grounded today for being sassy yesterday and so today they have no privileges and have to clean all day. I’ve never seen anyone procrastinate or drag out a task longer than these two – their little “craft” area looks like a bomb went off. And when I told my little pea this, she said to me, “So! SO does your room!” Man! This is why they are in trouble for the sassing! Actually mine is quite clean right now for once…but I do need to get back down there.

Here’s a quilt I made this morning and a purse being sent out tomorrow for orders. I’m working next on one my patterns – cute little kitty cat thing. I’ll show you that sometime soon! Within 3 weeks, I’ll have 3 patterns ready to go out to testers and I have only a few bodies to edit and test for me. If anybody else is interested in being a pattern tester for me, let me know asap! Ciao, Trish

Amy Butler at the Bloomsbury Loft

Look at the smile on my face. Does that say it all or what?! I have other photos of myself with this big of a smile. My college graduation. My wedding day. The birth of my children. And this. Ranks right up there :>)

Amy Butler has been a huge inspiration to me over the last several years. She lives about 30 minutes from my home and I first read about her in Country Living magazine and then found that ebay was loaded with handmade items utilizing her fabrics and I was enthralled with the colors and designs. She is really the reason why the sewing industry is where it is today and she has brought it to a whole other level that is bringing in new and younger sewers every day. She is just a class act all the way, in every way.

She was at a meet and greet event at the Bloomsbury Loft last night. Check out these sweet little treats they served – I brought these home for my girls. I think I was one of the first ones there for at least 20 minutes or so and I had the wonderful opportunity to actually have a nice long conversation with her about my aspirations, the business, her history and how she got started…it was really wonderful. She was generous in her time and advice, warm, sincere, and very gracious. I was so excited to go and meet her and I was not disappointed. She offered to help me out as I prepare to hopefully go to the Spring Quilt Market and I left there feeling truly energized that I CAN achieve success in this business. I loved hearing her tell her story about how she got started because it really made me believe in myself – that this dream is really achievable. I purchased one of her books, Little Stitches for Little Ones, and she signed it for me. Thank you Amy, it was such a pleasure.

About 5 am this morning, after I crawled back in bed after nursing the baby, my husband rolled over and put his head on my hip and said, “Are you still excited?”. I said, “Yes!”. He said I wiggled all night long and just laughed at me. I wasn’t dreaming about the evening I had just had but I was actually dreaming about my 3 girls. Nature and nurture.

My one pea, who is such an amazing creative artist. She picks up bottle caps from the sidewalk and general junk all over the place and then makes little sculptures and works of art. She amazes me in the depth of her imagination and what she pulls together. One day, she got into my beads (I used to make jewelry) and when I found her with all my expensive findings, she showed me that she had made the most beautiful pair of earrings to give to my mother. I couldn’t be mad at her. I couldn’t believe that a 6 year old could find all of those things and put them together the way she did with no instruction or help. And the other peas, she’s got such raw natural talent. She can look at a thumbnail picture from one of her magazines and recreate it and every detail in large scale perfectly. Wonderful artwork. And then I watch the baby and I am amazed at her dexterity at just 9 months. The way that she uses her index finger and thumb to delicately manipulate and pick up objects, wow. She has spent most of her life in my sewing studio either playing in the room or sitting on my lap while I’m at my machine. I think she will actually be the most amazing artist of us all. I just see it in her eyes.

And that’s why I was wiggling in my sleep. Because I have felt led to where I am today. Because I feel that nature and nurture in myself from what I can just naturally do and what I have been taught by my grandparents, great aunt, mother, father and teachers. Because I have always been encouraged in my art and crafting even when I didn’t want to do it. Because at this time in my life, this feels right. Because when I think about my girls and the talents that they have already, I know that artistic ability is both nature and nurture. They have watched me and also their amazing Aunt (who shares her talent with the kids and takes them to museums and draws with them. check her out here and here and here) and yet they have incredible talent that they were just born with. And so my dreams last night were of my future and all I could see was my 3 girls succeeding far more than I ever will.

But this just feels right. I had been feeling paralyzed. I had been praying for guidance. But I woke today feeling energized, and encouraged, and I feel hopeful. And ready. I am really ready to try.

Today, my kids were off school and we went to COSI, our local science museum. They love this place! In one of the exhibit areas, there was a needlepoint on the wall. It said, “HOPE. 1) A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectations of its fulfillment 2) to have confidence 3) Trust. Reliance.” I love this. And so I will. Hope.

I have a busy week ahead of me with my twins birthday coming up and a party this Saturday. I have 6 more aprons sets to make for their party just yet and tonight one peas said she wants a “sleuth kit”. They love mysteries and love the mystery in the Kit Kittredge and Nancy Drew movies. So any ideas? How do I make a “sleuth kit”? Seriously need some help on this one. A compass? A magnifying glass? Notepad and pencil of course. My husband being in law enforcement said he’d bring home some crime scene tape and might have a few other things he could come up with but…I need some ideas here! What would you put in it? And I only have a few more days to come up with this…kit. Which requires, you guessed it, a very specific bag to hold it all in. More sewing!

Update on my friend and her husband after undergoing some complications from his surgery, is now home and doing better. Thanks for your prayers…his one hour surgery turned quite complicated and we are so glad that he is now on the mend.

I’ll be back late next week with photos from the birthday girls shindig! They are so excited to have all their friends over and play and cook with their dolls. Do you get the feeling that I like it too? Still a kid at heart I guess!

Seriously? Could my life BE a bit crazier...really? Really.

I complain a lot here don't I?  I am SO glad you all are out there and just let me unload my woes.  Yeah, seriously.  I'm taking the day off of work tomorrow to clean house.  The MIL is coming to hang with the little one so I can zoom around and sort through junk that has been deposited...well, everywhere in my house so I can put some order in place.  And quite frankly, I'm looking forward to it.  Really.  I mean it.  I have a lot to look forward to this Spring and a good place to start is an organized house.  I have 4 bins of clothes and 2 bins of junk to go through and I can say...I am done.  I have gone through every closet, corner, nook and all of our house.  Started when I was pregnant...ah, in the fall of 2007.  Sprout is 9 months...I'd say I was fairly efficient, right? Don't laugh!  I hear you snickering out there...you got junk laying around too, don't you?  Come on,  you all email me on the sly and nobody ever wants to comment out in the open but hey, don't be shy.  You can own up to it.  Makes us all feel better to know we are not, gasp, perfect.

Anyway, still have some major cabin fever going on.  The kids are back in school..and guess what, they have Friday off!  Let's see, snow day, snow day, snow day...oh yes, let's have another day off.  I don't even know why they have it off but I for one, am headed off to our local science museum where we have a membership with the girls.  I can't take not even ONE more day in the house with them and their - oh I hate to admit this - crafting everywhere.

What have I done?  My little designers...they each made a quilt this week.  With scraps.  And a lot of glue.  A LOT of glue.   Once they dried, cute...and they put their new quilts on their sock monkeys (see sock monkey post) you should see the mess they left behind.  Now, they'll clean it as best they can but really, right now, my nerves are just frayed.  I'm crazy anxious about this whole - sewing industry leap - I'm about to take and...I don't know.  Is it just me?  Am I over sensitive?  Oh whatever!  :>)

I did get out on Sunday. 

Sprout took her first whirl around the park in the backpack.  Check out the thumb in the mouth.  Her top tooth just cut through that day.  We all enjoyed the sun although the trails were covered in ice so not so good for hiking.  It just felt good to get out.  And who would have guessed that it would 45' and everybody would be running around town with their car windows down and no coats.  Does that tell you how much we've become accustomed to subzero temperatures.  The 40's and we are all..."it's like Spring!".

And Thursday, I'm off to a meet and greet with Amy Butler. Like a stupid starstruck fan, I'm packing my camera along for sure.  My husbands aunt invited me - she's a buyer with the Limited brands.  She travels ALL the time to Paris, Rome, New York, Milan, etc for Limited in the textile industry and she's been trying to find me some connections to get my fabric line looked at.  So, she invited me to this little event and I'm really very excited and also nervous.  Will I get to talk to her?  If I do, what do I say?  "Ahh, hi.  I wanna be just like you."   No, that's stupid.  True, but stupid.  I'll just carry my bag I designed made with her fabrics and stare, I'm sure.  Listen, hope to glean off some secrets that will help motivate me to move MOVE MOVE these fabric patterns off to the testers and off the printers.  I just feel like I'm paralyzed though.  As long as I don't move, nobody has said no yet.  This is the whole anxiety thing.  See what I mean?

I'll end with this - there are much greater things in this life to fret over than a messy house and my nerves over my artwork.  My dear friend Kris, from LivyMarie handbags - you hear me chat about her once in awhile with her 5 kids she homeschools?  Well, her husband is having some heart issues and having surgery tomorrow morning.  Please lift them up in prayer as you read this.

Along with that, we have a local twins family who had their sweet peas born much too early.  They have been in the NICU and I made some quilts and hats for them last week.  My peas will deliver them next week and I'll share a photo later.  Please lift them in prayer.  Visit their journal and send them warm happy thoughts of the life to come for their family.

4:17pm.  I was going to leave the office today at 2:30 so I could work on some orders.  4:17pm.  Ugh.  Aprons are the hit lately...here's some more on their way to Morroco (is that how you spell it) to travelinmama who bought these on my etsy site.   She does some seriously cute paper crafts!  And I hope her little one likes the american girl set.

NOW I'm really, seriously, really...no I mean really, going home.  Really. Seriously.

Slan Leat, (a new one for me - goodbye in gaelic - a little nod to my Irish father)

Trish

ETSY SALE

Just a note...almost everything in my etsy store has been marked down to celebrate my "two peas" birthday this month!  Hurry - after February 10th, the prices go back up!  Grab 'em while you can!

The race is on...American Girl "closet makeover" contest!

So we are off and running on this idea of inspiring you to clean those closets and convert them into a great play space. I had to add new photos of ours. You know my kids didn't have school last week because of the snow and ice...missed 4 days of school. (deep breath. finding my happy place...hot cocoa in hand, ok...I'm there). My girls were hard at work rearranging things. We have new beds (don't ask where all the stuff is that was on the shelves - most of it is in the babies room. They said they don't need those other toys anymore. Shocking, I know.)

We have new bedroom spaces complete with their dog house and cat house

and a new kitchen space. Looks good doesn't it?

Well, I started on making the aprons for their party. These are the doll favors and then the big girls get matching aprons. I'll post those later.

Not only will the super Mom who posts a comment / photo of your makeover get that cute little bag, we are adding in a special little apron with a Valentine theme. Hurry though because the "closet makeover" contest will end on February 7th.  (See our last few posting for our "closet makeover" contest)

I can't believe they are turning 8 years old already...this was taken when they were 2. They are still just as adorable and sweet and the greatest miracle we could have ever wished for. Thank you God for entrusting their lives into my hands and for these days we have to share and delight in all that they are. They bring such much happiness to our lives. (especially when they are in school - I'm just kidding...sort of! :>) !

SO...that's it! Get to work!!! And hey...if you want to buy your own set of party favor aprons, you're in luck! I have a listing on my etsy site. You can buy individual aprons or the whole set for a discounted price! Have fun with your makeovers. The "two peas" can't wait to see the results!

Snowed in, going "snow" crazy!

Ok, seriously. I adore my children. I do. (I mean look at little pea dressed in my coat and hat and purse - what's not to love?) I know it seems like I complain about them here and there but that's just the oh, so tired, me wishing for a break from motherhood jibber jabber.

However, my little ladies have been to school - by my calculations, only like 11 days this month. Early dismissal, late start, holiday, in service, snow, ice, more snow, snow, snow. And our district is half rural so buses just don't operate well out here. Plus, my husband was sick last week with strep throat. Didn't get out of bed for 3 days. He's also been working tons - my little park ranger has been very busy this season and we've not seen a lot of him lately. On top of that, I...oops, wrecked my car in the snow squall last week. Minor damage, very traumatic for the twins - we were all just fine. But, me, Miss "Oh, I'm a professional. I've had over 70 hours of defensive driving training in law enforcement and been involved in high speed pursuits" and blah, blah, blah. Yeah, I went left when I should have gone right - the whole steer into the skid thing - and around we went into a ditch. Bummer.

What have the the girls been doing? Well, playing in the snow for one. Eating snow. Knocking down icicles off of their playhouse.

Finding who knows what in the snow and exploring.

We live on 5 acres so there is always something to explore in our woods, etc. Check out this view from my studio window. I could not resist a photo of the sun hitting the ice. Isn't this amazing? Be thankful for the little things God gives us. Simple pleasures.

The girls have also added on to the American Girl "closet" room. Now, it includes "3 floors". They've cleared off shelves and added more beds, a kitchen area AND an elevator. Oh yes, they rigged up a cowboy hat over their closet rod tied off to a knob on their dresser. Dolls can sit in the hat and be raised to the various levels. Their friends love it and have been inspired to clean out their own closets for their very own american girl closet bedroom. (See my last post) If your little one has been so inspired - LET US KNOW! I have a pretty little accessory bag for the super Mom who sends us a comment and photo of your special american girl closet room. I'll let the "Two Peas" pick their fav and we'll mail you out this sweet little bag.

Remember I said I was working on a baby bag set for my MIL who ordered for her niece, my husbands cousin? Well, little Laura Jane is about to receive this uber cool set. A mix of pinks and browns. Yum-o!

A bag, diaper wipes wristlet,

nursing coverand changing pad.

I want to keep it for myself but I can make another...and another! Because I have this whole set on sale on my etsy site right now! You can buy the whole set or pieces of it. I love the birds especially on it...and I can do this whole set in an orange and brown combo too - great for a boy! I added some other fun things to etsy today as well. Almost everything is ready to go so you'll get your goodies super quick!

So, wish me luck! Here's to hoping we have school tomorrow! Momma needs a break...and I have too TOO many projects I want to get to! Look forward to some aprons and matching doll aprons to come soon for thier upcoming birthday party. I'm working on some design samples now. Fun!

Enjoy the snow! I'll be sewing away...

Ciao, TRP

Big Mac Attacks and American Girls

OK…so you know how some days are like a roller coaster? That’s the day I had yesterday. Up. Down. Up. Down. Exhausting because I’m Irish and I typically have a short fuse so I was really tired at the end of the day. Tired anyway because ah…hello?! The baby, still waking a lot at night. Whole other story. Let’s begin. I have a special place in my heart for Big Macs, Big and Tasty’s…burgers and fries in general. And of course, Coca Cola. Fountain. I can do canned drinks but will drive out of my way to get a fountain drink. So, baby(s) #1 and #2, the twins. I gained 36# while pregnant with them. A week after they arrived, I had lost 31#. I thought, THIS is great! Baby #3, the singleton, I gained a “gulp”, 45ish#. Whateva. A week after she arrived I had lost…10#. And gradually I lost 3# here, 2# there…really slow. Mind you, I didn’t lift a finger to exercise. Not watching what I eat so I was content to think that eventually, when I was through this baby stage, I’d get back to my mountain biking and hiking regime. At 16# over prepregnancy weight – I stalled out. Stayed there for months.

Then 7 weeks ago, the baby starts teething and revs up her nursing demands greatly. My appetite goes crazy. I’m eatin’ big macs and whatever other garbage I can find…love cheese, breads…just eating in general. Favorite entertainment. I get on the scale yesterday. GASP! Prepregnancy weight on the nose! Bingo baby! I’m lovin’ this. I can eat whatever I want, do nothing AND lose weight. This may possibly be the greatest moment in my life. Seriously, you’re jealous, aren’t you? (smirk! Wink! Wink!) This was one of the up’s of the day’s roller coaster.

I decide to pop over to campus and work for a few hours. I have an event coming up next week. I wanted to clean off my desk which had a mountain of mail on it and I needed to make 2 phone calls. I decide to take the baby. I have my office all set with nursery stuff so off we go. She does great the first 30 minutes and then decides, um, today, I must be held by Mom or I will scream and annoy everyone in the office. Ugh! She never acts like this. Truly. She’s an angel. This was quite rare. Do you know how hard it is to type on a computer with a baby in your lap? It looks likoljlkjsfdk like thisdkjlkjda. Looks like that. Yep. Then crisis. An invoice unpaid. Who ordered what when where’s the PO? Dang, spent 30+ minutes figuring out the company double billed us and they were at fault. And then, a bank statement for a student organization – they had charged over the course of several years, $560 in “service fees” and we now owed them $4. Seriously?! Theft I cry and call the bank to straighten this out on behalf of our students. Baby still demanding Momma, desk still piled high with mail. Phone calls not yet made. After 2 hours and 40 minutes, I get my phone calls made and leave my desk a mess and leave. This was the down.

Head over to Ann Taylor LOFT. My favorite store. I was meeting up with my friend Jill. Jill had tried on a pair of pants I was going to return to LOFT and she loved them and wanted to buy them. They were more on sale than when I bought them so we were meeting at the store for me to return and Jill to buy them at the reduced price. Ladies, do you love deals?! Ok, brace yourself. I bought them on clearance for like $23. Jill paid…drum roll please…$4.88 PLUS 25% off that price. Oh yes…you heard correctly. We both start digging through the clearance section and doing a happy dance. I find THE deal of the day. A gorgeous deep blue with bell sleeved suit jacket. Originally, $119. On sale for….$7.41. Are you kidding me?! This was the big top of the hill coming down the roller coaster thrill of the day. A little retail therapy does wonders, doesn’t it? Insane good deals over there. This was the Whoo hoo of the day! I know, you are all giving me virtual high fives right now, I feel the vibe. It’s a good thing.

Then, I get home, get an email from my graphic designer with the cover options for my pattern line. An up moment. I heart them. They are perfect. My husband named the line (top secret for now! :>) and we both love the designs. The down side, to get started, the initial run of these will actually put us in the hole. It will take 3 prints before we break even and start to see a profit. Down down down. We decide to stop on the tracks and take a break to figure this one out. Anybody got any good business advice for us? It’s gonna happen…we just need to do a bit more planning.

Problem is, Quilt Market is right around the corner. May. We may not make it. The next market to try and get signed by a distributor is in the Fall in Houston. Way more expensive to go to. Hmmm…we’ve said it before, please pray for us as we figure out where we are being led and what to do with this business. I feel like we’ve hit a wall at full speed. End of roller coaster. That was the “Big Mac attack” of my day.

The “American Girl” part of my day…this is a long post, sorry. I have a lot to get off my chest (heave a sigh). My girls have been saving money from birthdays, first communion and Christmas plus allowance. They decided they wanted to buy themselves a new American Girl doll. Ok, so if you have kids into this you know, this is not cheap. The doll they want is $95. I have a $10 coupon to use. And we offer to give them $10 for their birthday in February. That puts one peas within $2 of having enough money and the other pea within $4. They beg to do laundry. I pay them 50 cents per basket. The dolls they picked out arrived yesterday and I put them in my closet. They are super excited.  The peas share a bedroom and they each have a ton of American Girl stuff already. We talked them into giving up some of the million toys they had outgrown and to clear off the bottom of their closet and they could “build” a “bedroom” for their dolls, hang pictures on the wall, etc. So here’s the result. My husband added some Christmas lights we were going to throw out to light it all up. They LOVE it. And now, several of their friends have decided to do the same. Cool idea, eh? Anyway, the jist is, I’m proud of them for saving their money to buy their own doll. Proud of them for doing such a super job at earning their allowance by working around the house. Proud of them for respecting and taking such good care of what they own. They are really good girls. I don’t know how that happened but they are surely, super special little things. I heart them big time :>)

And now, today…is the first morning in a LONG LONG LONG time I have had no real pressure to do anything. Of course, I have an order to do an entire baby set.  Large bag, nursing cover, diaper wipes case, changing pad. No biggie…I’ll get it done this weekend. It’s for my husbands cousin. I can’t wait to show it off to you later. I picked pretty little pink French wallpaper and stripes print with birds for their brand new Laura Jane. AND I just sent out a few things from some older orders…here’s a peek at one of them. I’ll get the rest loaded over on my portfolio later. Dial up…stinks. Can’t wait until someday we actually get internet service out here “in the country”…ohh, puulease!

Gonna also load a few "ready to go" items over in my etsy shop later. Check it out!

Ciao, TRP

Bows and Blossoms

This is Suann's uber cutie little girl.  Suann lives up in Marysville and has this awesome hairbow business.  I couple of posts ago, I put up a photo of my little one with a hairbow...this is one I purchased from Suann.  They stay in even in super fine baby hair. Anyway, Suann ordered a mommy and me purse set from me and I added in with her purchase a little dress for her daughter.  Suann made this adorable bow to go along with the dress.  I love it!  I love being able to find things handmade and made locally.  So share this link with your other "mommy friends".  When you order something from Suann - she sends it to you in this adorable little box, wrapped so pretty - it's like getting a gift!

As the snow falls outside my office window here on campus, and my baby is talking to her dolls on the floor here...and the big sisters were just dismissed early from school...I'm thinking we had better wrap things up and start heading home while we still can.  I love LOVE LOVE snow but hate driving in it, especially when I have the kids with me.  I think the baby could stay here all day - she gets loads of attention from everyone that walks by my office door...and the students think its funny that my office is set up like a nursery.  Hey, it works and everybody is happy!

Happy Snow day all!

Ciao, TRP

Bib Mania!

My hubby and I went on a little frenzy today with bibs for our baby! We chatted last night at bedtime about the designs and then this morning everybody chimed in on just how the different appliques should look. I cut about 5 different designs and pieced it all together. Then we tried to put on the snaps. Shhheeezz! I think we busted about 10 of them before we gave up. SO...we dropped our older daughters at an afternoon birthday party and took a trip over to the local fabric shop for a pair of pliers designed to put on snaps. Hoping to catch a bite out to eat, we headed to the local wine bistro...not open. Then over to our old favorite, Village Wines, also closed due to renovations! And...we don't actually drink alcohol but our favorites happen to be wine bars, both these places serve amazing food! Next try, a local mexican eatery and it was open. We gobbled down a ton of chips, salsa and some mighty big burritos. Yummy! Hit the spot...oh, yeah, back to the snaps!

We get home with our new mighty pliers and my husband goes to work on the bibs. SUCCESS! We got the snaps on all of them and tried them on our little cookie monster! Too cute!

This gorgeous fabric with the heart I appliqued is a line called Andalucia by Patty Young. I love this designer...she has a fun blog and I love the surprise of colors from this line. I'm totally going to swipe her latest birthday party idea she posted for her daughter. She did a super fun cooking party and made the guests aprons, chefs hats and oven mitts. With my twins birthday next month, I'm thinking I may do the cooking thing and the aprons. Chefs hats and mitts...a bit too complicated for me :>) But, follow this designer. She's got fun ideas!

Anyway, the whole family enjoyed this process and my twins want to be sure that we bring their favorite, a brood of fat little birdies on orange dots, to church tomorrow. They think she should wear it all day, not just at meal time! I listed several on ebay and eventually, I'll get some up on my etsy site and my dot.com, whenever I get time to finish setting it up! I"m still working on finishing up some orders from Mary's party - kind of wierd because I lot of the fabrics are on backorder so I'm stuck waiting for them to come in to finish up.

So, what do you think of the fat little birdie? Cute isn't he? You should have seen my husbands idea for this applique...whew! He's a good artist but...I'm a better designer I think!

Ciao, TRP

Sock Monkeys

Remember sock monkeys? I love them! My daughter saw a kit for making one and so I gave it to her for Christmas. The box said for 9 and up. She’s 7. So, she asked and asked and asked and asked and asked and asked and asked and asked…you get the picture, asked non-stop on Christmas day for me to make this for her. So, I get it started and have her help. Ahh…9 and up? Hello?! I was ready to gouge my eyes out making this thing! Sock knit is not the easiest thing to sew. Trying to turn the tiny little narrow arms and legs right side out…man! Of course, then he has to have a sleeping cap. And slippers. And his own little teddy bear.

Now that he is made though, we all love him. And want more! We’ll be on the hunt for more to add to our lonely little guy to start a collection. Besides old vintage ones…anybody got any ideas where we could find others?

I mentioned the other day that I was working with a graphic designer to turn my patterns into a marketable product. I’m really excited about this whole process. We discussed the packaging, product photos, and names. My husband and I came up with a great name for our first line…you’ll have to stay tuned in and wait for their debut to find out what it is! Garden theme of course.

I honestly didn’t get much of anything done today. I sketched designs some and painted a few. The hubby has a nasty head cold as does the baby. The baby barely let me put her down today. She just wanted held and cuddled. Even though she was a bit cranky, it sure was nice to cuddle all day and just relax. I so very rarely get to do that. We just enjoyed watching the snow fall most of the day…and listened to my husband blow his nose every few minutes. I sure hope I don’t get it because I am a terrible patient. I hate being sick.

Tomorrow is Friday but I’m not ready for the weekend just yet. Kids home and all. I need a few more uninterrupted days of peace and quiet. I think this whole sleep deprivation thing with the baby is starting to catch up to me. I could sleep for a week in my wonderfully cozy flannel sheets in my big king size bed. Ohhh…can you tell it’s just about bed time. Thinking about sleep already. I seem to think and talk about sleep a lot lately zzzzzzzzzzzzzz….

Ciao, T

Two front teeth...

The baby...my sweet cutie pie 8 month old baby.   Look at this face.  Is this a beautiful baby or what?!  The week before Christmas, she started to cut her two bottom teeth.  And...she started to wake up every two hours at night ever since.  I'm pooped.  Seriously, tired. Last night, I started to try and put a stop to this habit I think she has developed but it's hard because her crying wakes everyone in the house.  Any suggestions out there?  I tried feeding her again late at night...made no difference.  I let her nurse last night at midnight and then again at 6 am but we toughed it out between 2 and 3 am.  Cry, pick her up, change her diaper, rock, lay down, cry, let cry, cry louder, pick her up, rock, lay her down, scream her head off, let her for a bit, pick her up, rock...finally, quiet.  And then I was awake until like 4 am!

I'm not functioning very well.  I missed the girl scout cookie meeting on Saturday.  I didn't get to work today until 10am (ok, that's not that unusual...especially since the baby arrived).  And at this moment the screen is going in and out of focus and its still mid afternoon.

I have all of my other work tasks done with the exception of the content I need to write for our new website.  I started writing this content TWO YEARS ago and then things were put on hold and contracts cancelled and on and on...so I have found it IMPOSSIBLE to focus and jump back into this thing mid stream where I left it long ago.  It's due asap.  I can't write when I can't think or see.  And I can't drink too much caffeine, I'm still nursing.

So, before Christmas, I was working on a scrap throw quilt for my parents.  I got it done a few days before and they loved it.  Check it out...

This is just the top before I tied the whole thing.  I did the backing in this cute rodeo flannel I had purchased long, long ago - thinking of course, Sophie would be a boy.  So, the top side of the quilt is for my Mom, the back side, the rodeo flannel, for my Dad.

This week, I'm meeting with my graphic designer to discuss the packaging design for my patterns I'm working on and to give her my first draft of the designs for my fabric line for her to digitize and work on.  I'm super excited.  Prayers greatly welcomed through this whole phase.  This business may not take off this year, it may take us a few years but the we're trying and so I hope this leads to some new great things for our whole family.

Happy New Year to all and by all means, if you have some baby tips for me -do share!  You'd never know I am the mom to twins - I must have been in such a haze with them because I have forgotten EVERYTHING!  What foods to introduce when, schedules, blah, blah, blah, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!  See!! Falling asleep as I type!  I think I need the supernanny!

I am SO excited!!

Christmas is in 3 days and I am so excited! I can't wait to celebrate this first Christmas with our newest little one, our 7 month old, Sophia! And our twins are gonna go crazy when they see the fun stuff that Santa has brought! I'm still working on the quilt I'm making for my Mom and Dad and I'll share that later. Do you facebook? Well, search me out, Trish Raridan Preston, and then click on my Elf Yourself link. TOO FUNNY! Or find these funny "movies" yourself where you can insert your head onto elf bodies and more...at http://jibjab.com

Tomorrow more sewing. Then cookies and finally...working on the new website. New website you ask...yes, new all in one, shopping, gallery and more website. I'll let you know when I'm ready with the big launch.

Happy Holidays to you all. May you enjoy this day we celebrate the birth of our Savior and treasure your family.  (just a few photos of the latest that went out and I'm sure will end up under someones tree ...cute sets for Moms and daughters, eh?)

Lock the door behind you...

I don't typically blog about too much personal stuff.  To put it out there for the public - I just don't.  I don't typically share my kids photos or their names or too many details.  Just the ex-cop in me I guess.  I rarely talk about my faith although it is a major part of my life.  Why I keep silent about it, I just don't know.  It's not what we are asked to do when we are called to witness for Christ. And so I felt like sharing today some of my faith journey of the past week.  I'd LOVE to hear about yours as well...YOU inspire me.  When my friends share scripture with me, share their journey, their faith, good new songs to listen to - it lifts me up and sustains my hunger.  PLEASE SHARE!!  It's what we are all called to do..

My husband and I went to see the movie Fireproof last Friday night.  We rarely go on dates...almost never as the parents of 7 year old twins and a 7 month old.  Too tired, don't feel like it, too busy, too expensive...lots of excuses but I felt like we needed to go and see this movie for all of those reasons that seem to pull at us at this stage of our lives together.  Some friends from church had said it was really great.  And it was.  If any of you have ever struggled with faith, spirituality, love, relationships...you will identify with this movie, be humbled, and be inspired.

The song that plays at the end of the movie, Love is not a fight by Warren Barfield.  I tried to load the YouTube video here but it won't go so try the link here and it will take you to his myspace page where there is an audio link.  It's a great song.

"Love is not a place to come and go as we please.  It's a house we enter into in and then commit to never leave...Lock the door behind you, throw away the key."   My favorite FAVORITE line of this song is:

If we try to leave, may God send His angels to guard the door No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

When you struggle with anything in life, its easy to place blame, and fall out of faith.  Those are the times you need to be most faithful because God is working in you and you need to be patient and listen.  Patience is not something I have a lot of that is for sure so this is hard for me to do and I have found myself so many, many times trying to do what I want to do and not what God may want for me.  Excuses, excuses, excuses.

So as we prepare in this season, to celebrate the gift that we have been given in the Christ child, celebrate all that you have in your life and be faithful.  Listen to the voice in your heart that is leading you on the path.  Pray for each other and I'll pray for you too that you may be blessed with peace this year and always in your relationships and all you do in this life.  To God be the glory.

Harvest Sale this Saturday!

Just a sneak peek from my sewing table of most of the items that will be part of the sale this Saturday. I should have a couple of stroller quilts, accessory bags and wristlets, a nursing cover, some dresses, and design sample purses, along with a few totes and key fobs.

Don't forget, you can find a 15% off coupon on my shutterfly site along with the full details and address of the Harvest Moon Coffeehouse. I am already drooling over the thought of a pumpkin spice latte. And grown up conversation for a whole 3 hours...ahh! Hope to see you Saturday from 10am - 1pm!

What if it all goes right

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRbSUPWSdcE] I sound like some old lady, don't I?  My friend Joan passed on this book to me called My Sisters Keeper.  Man, it is really good.  One of the things she wrote in there said something like, don't most women find out what they really want to do when they are on their way going nowhere.  Referring to being in a job that just isn't going anywhere and in that, you make some real discoveries about yourself.  I feel like that describes me and where I am right now pretty well.  I'm not really going anywhere professionally anymore - at least not in the career path I started on when I graduated college some 14 years ago.  I worked for 12 years in conservation law enforcement and at a university in my natural resources field but I'm not really on the pathway to anywhere anymore.

There's no promotion to get.  I have given up my commission as a police officer for the sake of my family.  I'm just sort of sitting still.  And so, I feel like growing this business of designs and fabrics is where I've come full circle because art is where I began...really, really young.  And it's what my family has always pushed me towards saying that was my calling.  And in one way or another my family has always been connected by art.  And I've always ignored it.  Because I was "smarter" than that.  What does that mean?

But I'm starting to think - it's where my future is.  I just don't know.  I keep reaching out to other nationally known designers and getting some wonderful feedback.  It's just that first step is...wow, it's a really big one.  You know the kind that when you look down, you feel all sick and dizzy and you just want to back away but you know you gotta jump?  I'm at that point and I'm not so crazy about heights, if ya know what I mean.  As I met with my students tonight and talked to them about networking and how critically important that is to your success, I realized that I maybe I haven't networked enough, I don't know enough yet.  This song I posted above is one that gives me some inspiration.  I love what it says, what if the stars line up and good luck rains down, what if you chase your dreams and it changes your whole life.  Changes my life, my kids, my husbands - we have everything to gain and nothing to lose so I have to try, right?  Right?  Anybody got some words of wisdom out there?

what if that road that you’re taking’s a dead end What if love leaves you all jaded and broken what if that limb breaks you’re climbing out on yeah, what if it all goes wrong

But, what if it all goes right what if it all works out what if the stars line up and good luck rains down what if you chase your dreams and it changes your whole life Yeah, what if it all goes right

What if that road is a beautiful slow drive what if that love ends up lasting a life time what if that limb holds you, oak tree strong what if this time nothing goes wrong

what if it all goes right what if it all works out what if the stars line up and good luck rains down what if you chase your dreams and it changes your whole life Yeah, what if it all goes right

what if you climb to the mountain top and touch the sky grab a cloud as it passes by you might fall you might fall but then again you might fly

what if it all goes right what if it all works out what if the stars line up and good luck rains down what if you chase your dreams and it changes your whole life Yeah, what if it all goes right

My not so winning entry...

Ok...so I entered a contest recently with my ultimate diaper bag.  This is the one that Amy Butler's studio folks asked my permission to post on Amy's FLICKR site.  So, I thought, I'd enter and see if I'd win.  I didn't.   But there are some beautiful projects that did win and I got a nice tiny mention.  Check it out. My head has been buzzing with all kinds of new projects and fabric designs.  I have 3 different fabric designs / lines in the works.  One that is whimisical and for kid projects.  One that is more vintage / sophisticated rustic farm feel.  And one that is just loud and colorful.  Can't wait to slow down the production line so I can create some more...

Winter Harvest Celebration - Don't miss it!

Hey Ladies! The Two Peas studio has a harvest of great buys just for you. Join us on Saturday, December 6th at the Harvest Moon Coffeehouse in Canal Winchester for a good deal on my products plus a great deal on lunch! I'll have a limited selection of items for sale from 10am - 1pm and when you print out the invitation and bring it with you - you'll not only save 15% on my gear BUT you'll also get a deal on lunch.

The Two Peas stuff...I'll have ready to go purses, accessories, dresses and more. Even some design samples from the upcoming Spring line for sale...like this one shown here. This is Bella - in progress. Get there early because when they're gone...they're gone. No custom orders this day - just ready to go. (Bonus! My friend Kris of Livy Marie Handbags has a great selection of fun bags there too! See her blog to check out her items)

And discover the great, I mean GREAT sandwiches, soups and coffees from Harvest Moon. When you present your invitation and order one sandwich, you'll get the second sandwich of equal or lesser value for half off. Trust me on this one - you'll love their food!

So come make a lunch date with us on Saturday, December 6th.

Pant! Pant! and more heavy breathing

Deep sigh.  Wipe brow.  Take a sip of sweet tea.  Coo at my Sprout.  Keep cutting, sewing, pressing interfacing.  A picture says a thousand words...can you tell what I've doing lately?  Santas workshop via the Two Peas in a Pod Homegrown Designs studio is B-U-S-Y!   Check out these latest goodies that will land under someone's Christmas tree this year...

A blank slate...

I wish I had something profound to write about but seriously, my mind is void of really anything meaningful or well, just about anything for that matter.  Do you ever have a day like that?  Ok, maybe a week or two like that?  I'm trying to take life slow and breathe slowly, take everything in, think before reacting, just trying to find more simplicity in my life.  But I have to tell ya, it's kind of exhausting to be so slow.  I'm sure you can relate.  When you are running on mach 5 and super speed, it's almost hard to be tired because you dont' even have time to think about sleep or rest.  But when you rest more, you actually get more tired.  And...our wonderful, gray skies, 30' temperatures and brisk breezes surely don't help me to motivate. Here's what I did do today however...I rearranged my furniture in my family room.  I keep doing these home parties and walk into these homes that are wonderfully decorated.  It makes me wish I had that kind of eye for decorating.  We were given a huge amount of family pieces when we were married.  I have no clue how to put them all together.  I cut out photos from one of my favorite magazines, Country Home or Country Living, all the time and try to copy what they do.  I just need a "home decorating for idiots" handbook I think.

Last week, the girls and I went to see High School Musical 3 and then I bought the soundtrack for my ipod...for them, of course.  Although, I find myself singing it all day long.  Completely corny but I have to admit, I like it, a lot. 

Got a few things done yesterday including this cute little Ava bag.  Love the colors that were chosen by Mary - she hosted a party last night.  (Thanks Mary!)  I have a few other things and when I get somewhere with REAL internet connection (yes, I'm doing this from my dial up connection! ahhhh!!!) I'll load those photos.

Make it a great week everybody!

My Everything

Michael Buble Everything So, I took a few days off.  Which turned into two weeks really.  I feel fine.  I feel good actually and so I'm back to work at my day job and back to sewing this week.  This little quilt was made for a baby shower gift - hope the new Mom loves it.

My little ordeal gave me a bit of a chill...you know the one where you go, "whew, that was a close one!  Could have been way worse".  Last time I had some heart issues, I was in the hospital for 4 days and then on meds for a year.  This time, I said no thanks to the meds and asked to go home as soon as I was in normal sinus rhythm.  And they said ok and then talked about what a bad patient I was out in the hall - like I couldn't hear them through the curtain.  "Well, I told her, she's a big girl and can make her own decisions.  If she wants to run out of here and have a pulmonary embolism or a stroke, it's on her."  Thanks.  Honestly, feel fine.  Not even a rare blip or thud out of my heart - all is as quiet as a mouse.  Stress just caught up with me I guess and so I need to be still a bit more often and slow down.

I went home and took a few deep breaths and thanked God for all the gifts I have in my life.  My sweet sexy husband - ya know what he did for me?  He took a week off with me after I got home AND he cleaned out our garage which I have been talking about for 2 months.  Ohhh, how I love a man who can clean!  AND he bought me a haunted house for Halloween - my favorite day of the year!  The Tunnel of Terror - so sweet!  And I hugged my little Sophia for days and days because I realized that the stress I put my body under caused me to get so sick that I couldn't take care of her.  And that made me feel terrible.  So, slow and easy.  And loving all my girls and my husband to pieces.

Are you a Micheal Buble fan?  Who isn't?!  When I got home, it just made me think of one of his songs, Everything - I change one of the words out of it...instead of "be your man...I say, be your Mom".  I wrote the lyrics below but if you don't have this on your ipod - get it!  Our whole family loves it.  It's my Mom song to my kids - they are my EVERYTHING.  (And the hubby too - he gets more and more amazing everyday, ok, well most days - some days not so much :>)  but most days he's my everything too.)

You're a falling star, You're the get away car.

You're the line in the sand when I go too far. You're the swimming pool, on an August day.

And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute.

Ah, When you smile at me you know exactly what you do. Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true. Cause you can see it when I look at you.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you, You make me sing. You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well, And you light me up, when you ring my bell.

You're a mystery, you're from outer space, You're every minute of my everyday.

And I can't believe, uh that I'm your "MOM", And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.

Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through, And you know that's what our love can do.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times It's you, it's you, You make me sing

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

[Chorus:]

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times It's you, it's you, You make m e sing. You're every line, you're every word, you're everything. You're every song, and I sing along. 'Cause you're my everything.