Bari J. - Keeping it Real

I heart Bari J.  I hold a special flame for my friend Bari because we are both bag ladies.  And I mean that in a good way.

Bari designs handbags and other cute little accessories.  I own a sweet little wristlet of hers that I adore.  But most recently Bari has ventured into sewing patterns.

When I was planning this birthday week of giveaways I knew there was one person I really wanted to include, Bari.  Bari has so many great things coming on the horizon and if you haven't been properly introduced well, consider that introduction done now.

She has an adorable project being published in the soon to be out book "Little Birds".  This is a book you will want if you sew and you like birds (my friend Renee would hate this book - she's deathly afraid of birds).  Bari has two beautiful fabric lines and another on the way from Windham fabrics.  She has new book she has authored that is currently in production as well.  The girl has a lot going on to say the least.

Bari has been generous enough to offer up for my birthday surprise today to one of you...a set of her new sewing patterns, all four!  How cool!  

This last one is my favorite.  Take a closer look.  That oven mitt is no ordinary oven mitt.  Check that out!  It's an art quilted oven mitt!  Isn't that fantastic!  Well, seeing that inspired me to share one of my favorite recipes with you.

I'm quite the soup maker if I do say so myself.  My friends and family have their favorites and make requests.  My kids LOVE my chicken tortilla soup the best.  I think it's my fav too.  You'll want to try this one out...and use your new made it yourself oven mitt of course!  (I believe you can click on this recipe to bring it to full size and then print...if you can't and you want me to email to you, let me know.

To take home the set of four patterns from Bari J., visit Bari's Open Sky Shop and come back here and tell us what your favorite find was.  That would be nice OR you can just leave a quick comment - tell Bari how much you love her new patterns, etc.  That's it!  This giveaway will be open until midnight on Wednesday, March 31st.  Random.org will choose the winner.  Good luck and if you try the soup - let me know what you think!

Don't forget to scroll back to enter the other giveaways this week and stay tuned for our last birthday giveaway tomorrow from Where Women Create!

xoxo,

Trish

Happy Birthday to...

{the giveaway for this post is now closed} ME!

Today is the day!  It's my birthday!  It's my birthday!  Put your hands in the air like ya just don't care!  Now everybody sssscream!!

Just kidding!  You can put your hands down now.  Stop screaming.  Really.  Stop.

I will be brief today because I'm preparing to spend the day off from work and hang out all day with my husband.  Something we haven't done in a long while.  (I hope he takes me to my favorite restaurant for lunch!  I'll tweet if he does!)

First, a giveaway.  From the Two Peas studio.

I had an idea that for my birthday I wanted to make something for the giveaway that I hadn't made before.  Something unique.  I thought...me, the working bloggy mom that I am, I'll make a laptop sleeve since mine is constantly in arms reach of me.  And how cool would it be to make it from a pair of mens pants, use the pocket to hold the cords, add a couple of mens ties.  In my head, it was a great idea and it looked good too.

In real life, what was a "swan" in my head, became this bit of an, I won't say ugly but let's just say "unique duckling"

Let's call it our "punk rock business as usual" laptop sleeve.  My sister said it was ugly.  As did my oldest and dearest friend whom I've known since the day I was born (we were neighbors growing up and born 4 days apart.  We like to say our Moms must have passed in the hall and we probably were bunk mates in the nursery)  Somebody out there has to love it.  I'm determined now more than ever to give it to a good loving home.  Where someone will love her not because of her outer beauty, but because of who she is on the inside.  A beautiful bag inside of a pair of mens pants and two ties.  Oh, now that's funny!

But wait folks, there's more!  Oh yes!  (I sound like one of those crazy info -mercials)  Because the bag turned out so crazy...I'm adding this one in too!

Wait...there's still more!!

Awhile back, Patty Young, textile designer extraordinaire, was tweeting about this.

It's hard to see how cool this is...Patty uploaded a few of her textile designs to this website and created a gelaskin for her iPhone.  I asked her if she could get a couple extra for me and she did...way back in November.  Because I knew, this would be cool for my birthday giveaway.  Yes, I planned this out that long ago.

This gelaskin will fit on your iPhone or iTouch.  It features a design from Patty's Flora and Fauna line.

3 Fun prizes...ok two for some of you...some may think they are all great.  And the last prize today...a shop credit from Two Peas for $25.

This giveaway will end next Wednesday, March 31st at midnight.  The winner will be chosen by mr. Random.org.  Here's what you need to do to enter:

Leave a comment each time you do one for multiple chances:

1)  Become a fan of my facebook page

2)  Subscribe to my blog (it's over there to the left in the sidebar)

3) Post this giveaway as your Facebook status and link back to this post.

4)  Tweet about this giveaway and link back to this post.

5)  Blog about this giveaway for TWO entries!

and last

6)  Visit my etsy store and tell me what your number one must have item is for Spring

Sound good?  All together 4 prizes.  The laptop sleeve that needs a good loving home, the clutch, the gelaskin, and the shop credit.

Birthdays are good, yes?

The fine print Yes, this giveaway IS open to our international friends with one little hitch...you gotta pay $6 shipping if you win either bag (which will help cover my shipping costs...international shipping can be really pricey so feel free to play along so long as you don't mind helping with the shipping expenses.   Free US shipping on all giveaways.  And Free international shipping for the gelaskin. )

Happy 37th to me, again!  Thanks for making my days such great ones - I really enjoy our network of crafty friends and moms!

And don't forget to scroll back to yesterdays post and get in on the Britt Lakin Photography giveaway

xoxo,

Trish

{capturing birthday memories in photographs}

Once upon a time, long, long ago...I was once this small. And no, this is not me pictured above.

But that was many moons ago and this week as I celebrate my "37th" birthday - it's a fun time to reflect back on so many previous birthday memories.  My girls were talking about last year when they completely draped the driveway in crepe paper so I couldn't pull in when I got home from work.  Then there was the year my husband had them write Happy Birthday on my cake with my age and had them cross it out and correct it twice...oh, that was SO funny.  Not.

Capturing memories in photographs is really important to me.  It's one of the reasons why I love this blog because it gives me reasons to take and share casual snapshots and stories that I think my kids might enjoy reading someday when they are my age and looking back.  I wish I was a better photographer...like Britt who took all these awesome snaps on this post.

Well, my birthday surprise to you today is...a wonderful photography session from Britt Lakin Photography.  

If you are located in the Columbus Ohio area, or are willing to travel to Columbus, then you are eligible to enter!  (Sorry to our friends outside of Columbus but I promise to have some more amazing giveaways this week open to everyone!)

Here's the scoop:

Giveaway for a free custom photo session! -May be used for couples, maternity, family, and children (no extended family). -1 hour of shoot time on location, here in Columbus Ohio. -15-20 edited high resolution images on CD with a personal copyright release -Photo Shoot must occur before July 31, 2010.

Here Are The Giveaway Guidelines: -You have 1 week to enter this giveaway (closes March 31st at 8pm) - The winner will be chosen via random.org and then announced on April 1st.

Here is how to enter:

There are lots of chances to enter! For each item, leave a comment that you did it.

1) Go to Britt's Facebook fan page and become a fan.

2) Post this link as your facebook status.  (then have link to this blog post)

3) Become a follower of Britt Lakin Photography blog.

4) Tweet the giveaway!

5) Post about this giveaway and link back here on your blog.

6) Become a follower of Two Peas in a Pod Homegrown Designs blog.

7) Become a fan of Two Peas in a Pod Homegrown Designs on Facebook

To learn more about Britt, you can check out her website. {click on her blog and scroll down - you'll get to see a lot more from our Two Peas photo shoot a couple of weekends ago!}

What I LOVE about Britt is that she is very passionate about the environment.  At home she composts, recycles, reduces, reuses, shops for items with sustainable packaging, and drives a hybrid.

"I feel that it is very important for businesses, even small ones, to be sustainable.  It excites me that I can extend my efforts into my photography business."

As a consumer, I love supporting businesses that are green.  I know that my dollars are going towards supporting a green industry and that my demand for businesses to act in sustainable ways will put pressure on ALL businesses to act green in order to stay competitve.  Britt does it because it's just who she is and I love that!

So jump in the giveaway and good luck!

xoxo,

Trish

{setting a pretty little birthday table}

Happy Birthday to me!  Day One...

{come back everyday this week (March 23rd - 26th...contest ends midnight on March 31st) and find tutorials and wonderful giveaways from the Two Peas studio, and some of my friends, Bari J., Britt Lakin Photography and the crew at Where Women Create on posts all this week!}

Good Monday Morning everyone!  This is day one of a week of what I hope will be lots of fun stuff for everyone.

Ready to jump in to a tutorial?

Alrighty then...today, we are going to set a pretty little table just right for a birthday celebration or Easter or just a Monday night dinner. And we are going to nibble on some delicious and really simple lemon bars.

If you chitter chatter away with me on Twitter you might recall last Friday night I was blabbering on and sharing photos from the Two Peas Sewing Bee class.  We were making upcycled pillows from my hubbys old shirts...and table runners.

...shamelessly plugging the latest issue of Sew Hip {thank you Barb}

Our wonderful hostess Barb...she's my idol.

She's a great Mom who I frequently take parenting lessons from...

Barb's Mom is equally as awesome.  I call her "Super Nova" (well, her name IS Nova and she IS super).  Nova helps me sew sometimes when I get overwhelmed now again with orders.  And she teaches me a thing or two about sewing.  She rocks.

Barb put these together at our class for our table runner project.  Gorgeous right?

Here's what you'll need to cut to make this table runner using 6 different fabrics:

• Cut 2 of one color 2" x 21"
• Cut 2 of one color 2" x 21"
• Cut 2 of one color 2" x 21"
• Cut 2 of one color 3.5" x 21"
• Cut 2 of one color 7" x 21"
• Cut 2 of one color 6" x 21"

You will also need some quilt batting and some fabric for the back.  Because it lays on the table - no one will see the backside.  I just use sheets that I find on sale for the backing.  Find whatever you have that is inexpensive - why spend the big bucks for that back piece?

Once all of those strips are cut, lay them out until you get them in an order you like.  Barb did a somewhat random order but matching the two end pieces.

Here, I put mine in order at the ends and random in the center...for the place I was using it in, I decided to not use two of the strips to shorten it a bit. You're the designer - build it to suit your needs.

Once you have your design all laid out, starting at one end, take the first two strips, lay them right sides together, using 1/4" seams, stitch together.

Now take those two strips and add on the next in line.  And so on until you have your top completely pieced together.

Press all your seams open.  Lay your top down on a piece of quilt batting and cut the batting about an inch or so larger than your top.

Pin all over the place.  Pin the edges and all throughout the top to hold the batting and top together.  Now, we are going to do the lazy girl quilting.  (Trish doesn't do anything that takes a long time so we are going to take some short cuts).

A nice 3 step zig zag, a wave stitch...your choice but stitch over your seams throughout the entire top.

Remove all your pins.  Lay your top on your backing fabric, right sides together.  Use your top as your pattern and cut to the same size of your top.  Pin.  Stitch all the way around with 1/2" seams leaving an opening for turning.  {I stitched with the batting facing up...it's tricky a bit but it helps me to see where I'm going and to stay straight while stitching}

Turn right side out.  Press all along just your edges (I think if you press all over you'll kind of press down your loft of the batting).  Topstich.  Barb and I both did a scant 1/8" edge stitch but you can do something decorative...anything you want, just topstitch.  It gives it that polished finished look.  And yes, no binding.  That requires more time than I have with 3 kids.  And that would mess up my slogan, "pea sized projects you can complete in 3 hours or less".

You might want to add Baxter to your table top too...he's super cute and perfect for Easter.  You can find him here

Now, when I went back to Barbs to take a photo of her finished table runner, she had some of these waiting for me.  Ok, not me, her girls, but I ate some because, um, who wouldn't?  Look at these!  They were just calling my name...

Lemon Squares.  Warm.  Loaded with powdered sugar.  The most amazing simple flavored melt in your mouth wonderfulness for a crust.  Dee.  Licious!  Want to make some for your own table?  Follow the smell here... for the recipe and make some for yourself.

I think THOSE lemon bars and that aqua and pink table runner would look smashing on my dining room table...just sayin.  (you're awesome Barb!)

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Trish

First day of Spring and a BIG celebration week ahead!! For you!!

I just wanted to give you all a heads up...it's my birthday this week...you still have a few days to get me something if you really want to, I mean you don't have to but if you insist!  I love books, iTunes, fabric of course...thread, ric rac and notions and starbucks.  Oh and anything handmade...I just adore handmade trinkets (and pretty little aqua blue and pink table runners...Barb!  Hint!  hint!  Just kidding.  Not.)

...but for realz...for my birthday I'm going to be giving YOU all a little something.  Ok, a lot of something.

I have several giveaways planned.  Some tutorials.  A couple of delicious recipes.  It's gonna be a good week so you'll want to check back everyday to see what's going on and get in on the celebration.  Every day this next week I'll have a new post with something yummy or cute or inspiring...I hope you'll enjoy my birthday as much as me!  (And if you must know...I'm turning 37, again.  For the 3rd time.  What?  You don't have repeat birthdays?)

Truth is, if you remember back here where I wasn't feeling too hot, hormones and all...and you may have noticed I've backed way down on blogging lately - so this week will be a BIG jump into trying to get back into the swing of things.

I've been slowly working on feeling better.  I went to see my doctor and they ran all kinds of tests - most specifically for lupus and looking for early markers for cancer...I was feeling really bad.  Headaches everyday, GI symptoms, crying, fatigue that was off the charts, slurred speech because I was just that freaking tired...anyway, all of those tests came back good.  They did find that I was super low in Vitamin D, and few other things that go along with that plus a few oddities with a liver enzyme.  They are doing some more testing but in the short term...I've started taking over 2000mg of Vitamin D a day and maybe it's all in my head but, I am feeling better.  My headaches are down - instead of 7 days a week last week I only had headaches 4 days.  My tummy is off and on a bit better.  My fatigue feels more like normal overworked Mom tired.  Today was a rough day but most days I feel like I'm improving.  Thanks so much for all your well wishes - comments and emails and tweets.  That was really nice and I really appreciated the concern and support from everyone.  I'm blessed with a lot of wonderful friends in real life and here on the blog - thank you.

SO I'm just saying...this is gonna be a fun week on the Life is SEW nice with my Two Peas blog!  My friends over at Where Women Create have offered up a little something for my birthday celebration giveaway, Britt of Britt Lakin Photography has a super offer for everyone this week, I have a little something that Patty Young cooked up that I'll be giving away plus a few of my own goodies from the Two Peas shop.

Happy Birthday to me - and Happy Spring to you!  See you all this week!

xoxo,

Trish

Me? Hip? Not SEW much...

Ok...well maybe I'm a little hip.  Like SEW HIP...oh, really bad introduction, huh? Well, I've been busy writing patterns, sewing orders and taking care of a million other things going on with our family lately.  But little Sprout and I did manage a quick morning run last week to our local Barnes and Noble.

How lame, right?  Yes, I DID take a picture of Sprout and I actually getting the latest issue of Sew Hip magazine.  This is the first time I've been published and well, I'm tickled pink.

I'm even more tickled to find out that the project I submitted...well, they decided to run it as a series.

It's called a Pocket Full of Posies.  Have I already told you all this before?

So not only do I have a project in this issue but I'll also have features in the next two issues.

And the 3rd in the series...I got a note the other day from the editor.  My project made the cover.  YIPPEE!  That's just so cool...I can't wait to show my Mom.  Seriously...if you recall from previous posts, my Mother mostly displays my work (patterns, art quilts, etc) in her bathrooms.  She claims nobody will miss them in there.  Well, ok.  So I'm sure next time we visit I'll find my article probably framed and hanging over the toilet somewhere.  :>)

The Two Peas took a few photos of me while I was putting together the flower banner that's in the current issue...

I'm kind of anxious to get the banner back...I'm going to hang it in the Two Peas room I think...they love it and it would match their room perfectly.

Hip or not, I'm SO excited.  I would LOVE to know if you get a copy and make any of the projects.  Please share and I'll be glad to highlight you here on my blog.

Busy week ahead...St. Patricks Day is Wednesday!  Big day for our family...can't wait to see them all.

xoxo,

Trish

Spring SPROUTS!

SEW excited about some new things coming along for my "SPROUTS" sewing pattern line. Want a sneak peek at what's coming soon?

All of these designs will be available for purchase in my etsy shop for custom orders and I will also have the sewing pattern available this Spring.

I am looking for pattern testers currently.  You need to have a little one in order to "model" the dress so you can comment on sizing, etc.  Sizes 2T - 8.

*Note*  Do you see the snow reflected in the glass?  The girls were FREEZING!  But darn they are cute!

Want to be a tester?  Email me at twopeasinapoddesigns at gmail dot com and indicate the size you would like to test.

Thank you Britt Lakin Photography for such great photos...

I'll have more photos and a big "official" reveal later.

xoxo,

Trish

Spring is in the (h)air...

Photo shoot for pattern covers and magazine article, check!

Exhausted, check!

Loads of new hair things from this weekend, oh yes!  Check!

Spring in in the (h)air!

I wear one almost everyday...because they make me happy.  My girls wear them too.  I make giant ones for them.  Because they are so stinking cute!

And a great price too!  I just loaded both my local shop and etsy with some...and still more to come.  Got too tired to keep going.

Buy 2 or more of the flower hair barrettes or rings or gloves, and get free shipping!

I think they'd be great for Easter, anything SPRING, weddings, bridal shower favors, or tween party favors (wouldn't the rings be fun as favors for teenage girls!)

Happy Monday!

xoxo,

Trish

Junior Ranger Party

The Two Peas recently turned 9 and we had a hard time deciding what to do for a party.  We finally were able to come up with the idea to have a "Jr. Ranger Party" and invite all of their friends to come along on a winter hike, etc. You could do this theme anytime of year and gear it for boys or girls.  We were lucky in that the two peas Dad happens to be a park ranger and the boss at the park where he works so we had "built in expertise!" for our event.

Invitations

A scrapbooker I am not.  I did have some scrapbook paper on hand and a few other do-dads.  I cut the paper and added some cardboard to the inside.  We decided we would stick to a nature theme.  I sewed on scraps to make a butterfly on the front and used some tags to write the number 9 and the two peas names.  We also personalized each invitation and put an initial sticker with the name of the girl being invited on the cover.

Cakes and Cupcakes

We had two parties.  One at home with family.  One at the park with friends.  For our friends party, we had cupcakes that I decorated with owls.  Yes.  Those are owls.  Kind of goofy looking.  I used gumdrops sliced in half for the eyes.  I put a chocolate chip in the middle of each one for the eyeball.  Then I sliced a candied fruit wedge thing in half for the wings.  And used Twizzlers rope for the talons and beak.

For our family party, we had owl cakes.  I used oreo cookies and chocolate chips for the eyes and the Twizzlers rope for the rest.

Decorations

For our family party, I just used some paper lanterns we had from our party last year. I found these in the wedding stuff from Martha Stewart  at Walmart in the craft section.  Near the scrapbook stuff.  I use them alot for parties.  I found the butterflys at our dollar store and pulled one inside of each lantern.

At our friends party, the ranger station was full of cool critters.

A balloon on each childs chair, bowls full of gummy worms on the table and we were all set.  Kept it simple.

Activities

For our friends party, the two peas Dad took everyone on a winter hike to look for signs of wildlife in the snow.  They were lucky enough to come upon a deer that was nestled down, they saw lots of birds and squirrels.  Hikes are easy to do.  You could ask your local park if their naturalist would offer a special hike for your group.  Or you could do it yourself.  Nature bingo is one fun hike theme.  Make a bingo card for each child and they have to search for what is on the card: a bird call, a large tree leaf, a small tree leaf, a nut that has been eaten on, something shiny, a bark rubbing, etc.

Once inside, we had some fun crafts to make.  Sticking with our nature theme...we used those fuse beads to make critters.  I had an owl, snake, flower and more as patterns for them to follow.  

We also made some pins to wear.  I twirled some crafty fur things (I'm not sure what they are called) into a circle, hot glued on a pin on the back and a little stick.  The girls then glued on the eyes, wings and a beak to make owls.

We planned our party to last for 2 hours.  We barely got it all in.  Another half hour would have been good.  By the time they hiked, crafted, ate cupcakes, rootbeer floats and yogurt tubes and opened gifts...we started to run out of time.

Party favors

I made a field bag for each girl.  A very simple bag.  Serge stitched and folding the top down to the outside, I put a decorative stitch around the cuff.  I put each childs name on the strap and appliqued and owl to the bag.  Each child got a monogrammed notebook to take on their hike and record their sightings.

It was a great party with very little preparation.  Easy to do, loads of fun.

xoxo,

Trish

Cure for the winter blues

Truth be told, Little Sprout is weaning from breastfeeding.

I'm one of those "green" momma's that believes that nursing her really helps to boost her immune system and has gotten her through our awful cold and flu season.  The babe has only had 2 nasty little colds to speak of.  Even with her sisters having had strep throat again and again, and whooping cough.  Sprout has stayed really quite healthy.  I had the same experience with my twins who I nursed until 20 months. They also stayed really healthy when they were so little.  Once they are bigger, bring on the germs.  I always thought the bigger they are the better they can handle being sick as opposed to when they are so tiny.

And so we've held on and kept at it as long as we could to give Little Sprout all the good stuff she needed to stay healthy.  And now we are winding down.  Which I believe has my hormones in a bit of an uproar.

Hence why my posts have been a bit "crazy" lately.  I call it the "winter blues" or "postpartum" um, 22 months later but whatever.  I'm trying to work through it and being honest about feeling "blue" I think is perfectly ok.

I didn't even know what it was as we started to wean down to one feeding in January.  Why was I feeling so tired?  Depressed?  Weepy?  Turns out that postpartum depression does occur when you are weaning from breastfeeding.  Who knew?  Now I know it's not in my head and I'm not crazy.  Or weak.

For some reason, as women, we have to be it all, not be weak, go, go, go, be all things to all people, never complain, never sit down, never stop and smile through it all and keep our kids and husbands happy.  I admitted to my husband the other day as I was crying while ironing that I was in fact, probably a bit depressed and hormonal.  To which he snickered and said some typical man kind of response.  I think it was like, "No kidding?  That's a surprise" or something like that.  He's seen me cry on my way to work, cry when I get home, cry while I'm reading blogs, cry while I'm cooking dinner...and when I can't quite put a finger one why the heck I'm crying...well, this is why I've adopted the mantra lately, "hormones suck".

I have nothing to cry about.  So, I've decided to slow down a bit to enjoy my family more and more.  Sleep more.  Make sure I get my vitamins.  Eat better.  Enjoy every moment more.  I think it will help me get past this shift.  It's weird to feel generally happy yet depressed at the same time.  To feel happy yet cry for no reason.  Have you experienced this?  If so, it's ok.  Make sure there are no little ears around and say it with me.  "Hormones suck".

I have so much to look forward to.

Like what you ask?

Well...I have two new patterns I'm working on that I hope to have done before April.  The Madison bag and an apron.

On the blog this month I'll be recapping a how to on our Jr. Ranger party, a tutorial for a really basic and simple softie, and I'll share my valentines storage box instructions.

I have two magazine articles I'm working on for submission.

I have a fun set of Jr. bridesmaid dresses to make for a wedding in New Orleans.

My birthday is...this month! (on the 24th actually!)  I have a really cool giveaway I'll be doing (Something fun from Patty Young for your iphone! and something from me)

LOST is in it's final season and I'm totally loving it.  Seriously.  LOVE.

Spring break is coming up this month and we are going swimming with the two peas and sprout.

And my Pocket Full of Posies projects series is currently being featured in Sew Hip magazine...I'm in the current March/April issue - issue 14. In the next two issues 15 and 16, you'll find an apron pattern and a wristlet pattern.  All based on the pocket from the apron - same pattern, 3 very different projects.  Here's a sneak peek at the flower banner from the current issue.

Thanks for sticking with me.  I think it's really important to support one another.  I think many of us have experienced this at one point or another in our lives and it's always so hard to admit.  But, me saying it out loud to my friends, my family, here on the blog - has helped me to see it and focus on making it better rather than to continue to let it suck me down a black hole.

And mostly, I write this blog and print the posts out for my girls to read someday.  I never want them to think they have to be perfect.  I want them to always know it's ok to be less than perfect, to admit it, and to ask for help and support.

This week - my focus was on Sprout.  Here's what made me smile...

This is MY cure for the winter blues.  Simple pleasures not lost in the clutter.  Hope you are well...see you soon!

xoxo,

Trish

Matthew 11:28-29 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (thank you for the reminder Beki)

Oh Happy Day...

{Root beer floats...}

{Fun field bags...}

{crafting...}

{and critters...}

The Two Peas had a great birthday weekend and are sound asleep at the moment.  My fingers are also pooped or else I'd tell you all about it.  Later this week we'll chat after I catch a few zzz's myself and rest up, ok?

Hope you had a happy weekend too...

xoxo,

Trish

Do I have to?

I think I do. I have to say, sorry.

Sorry for complaining so much lately.  What the heck is wrong with me?

When I read back over some of my posts lately I thought, geez, what a jerk.  What a stupid jerk.  What am I complaining about?

My children are healthy.  I'm doing well.  I haven't had any heart issues or been in the hospital for 15 months now.  My husband gets better and better everyday.  Even after a very hard road we've had.  Our families are healthy.  Life is good.  Ya know, I'm really blessed.  I KNOW that...

But I wasted a lot of breath and space whining about being tired and having too much to do.

The truth is, nobody said life was easy.  God has a plan for me.  And what would I learn or where would I be if there were no struggles in getting there, wherever "there" is?

There are tiny little joys in each and every day - bits of heaven all the time.  But if I keep whining so much - I'm going to miss them.

I always thought I was the kind of Mom that could do it all.  I just can't so I'm going to let the stupid stuff go and let the good stuff in more often.  More hugs.  More kisses.  More messes.  More of taking in the moments before they are gone.

Sounds so cliché, doesn't it?  And I'm pretty sure I've said it before.  At least twice.  Probably more.

But it's true.  I'm not getting any younger.  Neither are my kids.  Life is short.  I don't want to miss a single day God has prepared for me.  I have to live more deliberately than that - I need to, I deserve to, I was made to...

I was thinking about that when I left my art class tonight.  My sister was 15 when she died.  I was a year older than little Sprout is now when she passed.  She never got to do any of the things I'm so privileged to do.  So how can I complain?  Just stupid.  Stupid.  Stupid.  Stupid.

This blog is more than just a crafty how to kind of a place.  It's my space.  A place for me to...to be me.  Take it or leave it.

Now excuse me, I have some quality snow time to spend with my family out back on our sledding hill.  The Two Peas can't get enough of it and you can't hardly get them to come in.  Little Sprout can't stop saying "wheeeee!" and "no" for snow.  It's up to her waist...around 45" they said we've had so far...fun way to spend February. And we have an entire weekend of celebrations planned.  I'm the mother of soon to be 9 year old identical twin girls.  Couldn't be anything better.  I'm lucky blessed enough to have them all - I'll try better not to forget that and how special my job of "Mom" really is.

xoxo,

Trish

Felting a who with what?

My sentiments exactly.

Being snowed in like we were last week...and over the weekend, and again this week...with the snow and the big flakes that won't seem to stop (I think we are a little over 22" for the week or so) encouraged me to actually try a few new projects like the crib sheet and necklace...and oh, yes, those boxes.  (hopefully some directions for you this Friday?  Don't hold your breath though, right?)

I've been hearing little snippets or seeing little things here and there about felting. What is that I wondered?  Do I have to have special tools?  Well, it's pretty simple.

Wool sweater.  Hot water wash.  Tumble dry.  That's felting.

So, the peas, little sprout and I...

made one of our trips over to see what's cool at the goodwill store.  I've had some pretty good scores there before.

We found some great sweaters.  The quality of wool makes a difference.  One sweater felted much nicer than the other.  One didn't seem to change the weave very much.  Felting should make it really tight.  After completing my project, and thinking about writing this post...I found this very helpful link.

Found many good sweaters.  I cut into a beautiful Ralph Lauren cashmere blend sweater today for the wrist cuffs in a yummy grape color.  And I'm  in the process of making more of these...which sell like crazy in town at the coffeehouse.And I felted some.  Now what?  What do you do with this stuff?  Well, I did what I do and that is make a bag.  With an owl.  Love my owls.

Yep, a fun project.  And I love upcycling and reusing stuff.  Have you made any cool green projects lately?  Do share!  Send me a link and I'll share them all in another post soon!

xoxo,

Trish

The date night that never was...

I'm feeling rather sorry for myself.  Stand by...because I'm about to whine in 3...2...1...

I am never alone.  Except on my way to or from work.  I have a child attached to my hip at most times of every day.  And usually it's more than one, it's usually all 3.  Now, don't take that the wrong way.  I ADORE my children.

I work really, really hard.  I work part time outside of the home which requires me to actually do a wee bit of work everyday from home in terms of just checking and responding to emails, etc.  I run my own business.  That requires me to sew, list, sell, create tutorials, submit articles, and lately, pick up and work on my portfolio again (yes, yes...I'm one of "those" - like a million others - wanna be textile designer).  To enhance what I can do in communications at both my day job and also in my dream job, I've started taking classes at our local art college.  On my wish list of classes for the summer is a basic figure drawing course.  I haven't done that since high school...

And art, is something my mother always told me to do.  I was too stubborn to listen...but I digress, that's a whole other subject.  I was still whining.  So, let me finish my pathetic little whine session.

I think I was saying I work really, really hard.  I serve my community in an "official" capacity (we'll leave it at that) - belong to our twins club, the local art guild, active in our church, oh, did I mention I have 3 kids?

I know.  Big whoop.  Like, who doesn't do all these things?  I'm just sayin', I'm never alone.  I can't even tell you the last time I was alone in my house.  I can't remember.  It's been since before the baby was born and she's 21 months now.

And the gardener and I ('cuz that's what I call my husband) - the last date we went on included the baby.  Not much of a date.

On occassion, I'll stop somewhere on my way home from work for an hour or less maybe to run an errand.  But what I need is some me time.  ME!  Or ME and the HUBS.  He doesn't get any time either because while I'm at work during the week, he's at home with baby.  And while he's at work, I'm at home with the baby.  And when one of us gets home, the other may run out for an errand.

It's just the "moment" we are in in our lives.  I don't want to complain...ok, yes I do.

I love my life.  I'm just pooped.  If I had one day a month - a full 8 hours - to do whatever I wanted and I didn't have to fix dinner for anyone or do laundry or work or sew for a whole day - LUXURY!  Man, what I would give to have that one day a month.  Heck, I'd settle for every other month at this point.

So, our date night that never was...our 12th Wedding Anniversary, Valentines Day.  Spent, me with the kids, the husband at work.  One of his Rangers called off sick all weekend and he had to cover his shifts.

To make myself think that we would really be actually going on a real date sometime, I made this fabulous necklace inspired by this...

...and here is a great tutorial that got me started on this whole fabric roses thing awhile ago...I've made little pins and hair barrettes but I just hadn't made the necklace I wanted yet.

So my date night that never was...well, here's what I would have worn on my neck.

A few things I did differently than the tutorial.  I used a polyester type of fabric.  I used a hot glue gun and dabbed a dot of glue on every turn.  I twisted and folded my fabric constantly as I went around.  Then, I cut with pinking shears, a felt circle the size of the rose.  I mounded it with glue and pressed the rose into it when I was done.  I pressed it really hard to try and flatten it out a little too.  Then, I sewed each flower and bead to each other to make it one big piece.

I love it.  And like usual in my quest to afford to only work part time so I can be home more with kids - I have one for sale over in my etsy shop.  (you saw that one coming a mile away, right?).  I can do it any color or combination of colors and fancy do-dads and lace and bling so if you'd like one for your date night (good luck with that!) I'd be happy to make one for you!

If you want to make one with me - well, join me for our next sewing class.  We'll be making some accessory bags and learning how to make these into pins to adorn our little bags - and I promise, we always have fun!

Now, if I could just arrange some time away...

{ps A THANK YOU to Bernina Sewing Machines and their fab blog for featuring me in their favorite blogs links this week - check them out!  They have super fun things over there!}

xoxo,

Trish

Happy Valentines Day!

Loads of snow dumped on us this week gave us just the excuse and time to do some sewing with the Two Peas.  They love it although one of them is a bit afraid of it.  She frequently reminds me of the scene in one of the American Girl movies where a child is sewing in a factory and sews over their finger.  Hence her fear.

Anyway, last year we made Valentines card boxes for their class party by covering a cereal box with fabrics.  This year, I had the great idea to make one of those fabric organizer boxes.  Only I didn't have a pattern - like usual.  And I searched some tutorials and I couldn't actually find one that was any good.  I only spent like 4 minutes looking - I was sure I could figure it out on my own.  If you know of one, please share!  (I did find this one which would be great for a baby gift but way more complicated than I was looking for this project.  I needed quick!)

I should mention here I don't do math in my head.  Or on paper.  Very well.  Not my strong point.

And these tutorials never specified any sizes just a choose your size then do this...blah, blah.  I need EXACT details...left up to me, um, you could be asking for disaster.  When it comes to numbers.

So, with that in mind, I mismeasured on the first box.  Duh?!  It was a rectangle, not square.  But, it's still super cute.   I have to say, I just stand over the top of the peas and help them not sew over their fingers.  They do the rest.  Getting better everyday.

Do you want to know how we did it?  Me too.  I'm gonna make one more and make sure I get my measurements correct on all the parts and pieces and then I'll share it with you.  And I'll have exact measurements for you so there will be no confusion!  These boxes would be great for all kinds of things where you need some storage!

For now, our family wishes you love and peace and all the happy hugs you can stand on this Valentines Day.  Snuggle with your sweeties, eat chocolate and have a really great day.

Valentines Day 2010 is my 12th wedding anniversary.

I have the greatest guy on earth.  In many ways but I love it when he spoils me.  Did I tell you?  This week after dinner I commented that I had printed off a Dairy Queen blizzard coupon to use sometime.  I went up to take a bath after dinner and when I came back down he said he had to run out...and came back with blizzards for all.   He's sweet that way.  We don't actually have any plans just yet because with all this snow we can't really get any of the grandparents over to help watch kids for us to get away but I hope to at least sneak off for a nice dinner sometime soon with my hubby of 12 years.

Um, hello? Why didn't you tell me how easy this was?

I just want to know why you never told me how easy this was?  Seriously!

Little Sprout has this problem.  She's a tummy sleeper.  And about every other day, she wakes up with the front of her wet and she's has to take a bath and I have to change her bedding.  So, I need a fair number of sheets for her mattress to keep up.

I was shopping in town for fabric that was on sale on Super Bowl Sunday.  This Anna Maria Horner flannel is so soft and pretty.  I love it!

Have you made a crib sheet before?  I twitter friend recommended this tutorial.  Literally, a 2 yard cut of fabric and some elastic...30-45 minutes later, you have a crib sheet!

Honestly, all it requires is cutting out 8"x8" squares from each corner, sew those together, hem the whole sheet, sew on elastic in corners.  I couldn't believe how simple it was.  Or how cute too!

And we are also working on the Two Peas birthday.  On the 20th, my little twins will be turning 9.  We are having a Jr. Ranger Birthday Party at Dad's park in the Ranger Station...with all the critters on display, toads and snakes and turtles.  We are going on a treasure hunt hike in the snow, making little beaded owls to hang on their field bags I'm making everyone, and going to see and touch and learn about the animals on display there.  Should be fun...here's a sneak peek of the invites we made up with our scraps...

How to keep a baby somewhat clean 101

Was this a class you registered for back in college?  Yeah, me either.  It's one of those technical skill things you can't learn in a book but must experience in real life, right? Yep...so this is pretty much my mess maker, Little Sprout.

I had made a bunch of cute little bibs for her to wear back in the early days.  Loved these.  They caught what little drops fell as we fed her and they were so cute.  If I do say so myself.  This one is my favorite.

But that was then and this is now.

Little Sprout can no longer make do with those little cute fabric bibs.  We've moved on to industrial strength coverage here.  Attempting to utilize everything we've learned to date from our "How to keep a baby somewhat clean 101" course.

Who can resist the new oilcloths that are out?  I fell in love with the Amy Butler LOVE collection of oilcloths but ouch!  They are pricey.  I decided I could afford a quarter yard of two different prints.  They are 54" so you get a little more which is good.

I doubled up the oilcloth so that the laminated side was exposed both front and back.  I worried that if the cotton back got stained it wouldn't stay looking nice.  I don't know if this is actually necessary though.  I didn't know much about the oilcloths but a Twitter friend shared this link with me.  I found it to be FULL of great information.

You can wash laminated cotton.  Who knew?  So I think the double up was overkill.  I mean, you could single layer the bib and throw it in the washing machine if needed.  But with the double sided, all I do is wipe and hang to dry.

Anyway, I traced an old bib and added like 15 feet of length to it.  Just kidding.  Sort of.  I mean, check out the mess this girl makes.

I made the bib wide and quite long.  It is long enough to actually lay down in her lap.  I layed the two pieces wrong sides together so the laminated cotton was facing out on both sides.  Then I made my own bias tape and sewed it on.  Added some velcro at the neck.  Done.  Super simple.

A few notes.  I found that it's sticky.  You need a teflon foot to sew with.  I used one but it was still sticky.  I found this link that suggests using painters tape.  I think that would have done the trick for sure.  I also found that it can wrinkle kind of easily so you just have to be careful with it.

I ordered mine from Quilthome.com.  They carefully packaged it, rolling it and putting bubble wrap with it so it arrived in beautiful condition.

Thinking I'd be thrifty, I did not put a pocket on it.  Did you know the pocket is great for catching things like soup and yogurt that wee ones insist on feeding themselves as it dribbles all down the front?  So bib #2 WILL have a pocket.

I might even add an extra little tie under the arms to run around the back.  Just because.   While she typically dances in her seat, shakes her head wildly and giggles a lot - her bib gets out of place.  I think an extra strap may help to keep it down without me having to constantly adjust it.

I would love to actually do a table cloth with this fabric but it's like almost $20 a yard.  Too rich for us for a tablecloth.

Have you used the laminated cottons before?  What did you make and what suggestions do you have?

xoxo,

Trish

Dan the Picture Man

Shortly after the twins were born, I got a phone call from "Dan the picture man" asking me if I'd like him to come out to our house to do in home portraits for our babies.  He offered a special deal for first time baby photos that I couldn't resist. He has been photographing our family ever since.  And in exchange for some more family photos he took of us recently, I'm writing this post to tell you how much we have enjoyed our experiences with him.  He photographs our family at least once a year and our kids have literally, grown up with him.

Dan will go just about anywhere to take your photos.  What I love best is having him come to our house.  He brings his lights, his screens - and for our baby photos, literally, we set up on our kitchen table with screens and got these shots.  How much more easy can it get for a Mom?

Special moments in time and photos taken in special places that mean so much to us.  A favorite shady spot in the summer time.  The apple tree where I gather apples from and make applesauce in the early summer.

We don't have to pack anybody up to go anywhere.  Dan comes in.  Sets up.  Is amazing with the kids and able to get just the right smiles to come out.  He packs up.  He's gone.  Quick.  Painless.  Priceless.

Dan is wonderful and I highly recommend him.  As a matter of fact - he has been kind enough to offer 75% off his sitting fees for any of our readers who mention "Trish Preston from Two Peas in a Pod".  He'll come to you (if you are somewhere here in Ohio - I suppose for the right price, he'd travel wink! wink!).  Come to your home, come to a local park (we've had photos taken at the hubby's park he works at and others around town) or you can come to his studio if you'd like.

Just don't forget to mention our blog to receive your discount.  I promise, you'll be so pleased with the results!

xoxo,

Trish

Sew? Me? Why yes, yes I do. You?

Some of you sew.  Some of you don't.  But if you don't...is it fair to say you wish you did?

I hear it all the time.  "I wish I knew how to sew!".  Seriously - anyone can sew!  And so, I've been teaching a few classes about once a month on some original and other projects.  Fun for beginners.  Fun for those advanced sewers.

Last week, we had our TOTES! class.  The idea was that I would share how I draft...ha!  How I "draft" a bag pattern.  Um, a tote bag is a rectangle basically.  Add straps.  Boom!  You're done.

With a few patches and a basic pattern, I introduced them to using offset blocks and a little no sew trick.  Two different ways to make the gussets and how to make the straps.  How to create pockets from whatever scraps you have.  How to use interfacing.  How to insert a snap.  I think that about sums it up.  Wanna see what they came up with?

February, we are sewing up some fabulous accessory bags and learning how to make little rolled roses and more to pin on or attach to barrettes.

March, we are getting ready for Spring with some home dec sewing.  Pillow covers and table runners.  I love making the table runners actually into placemats which you can use on an end table too.

April, preparing for Mother's Day we will be making aprons.

May, end of school year so we will be making teacher thank you gifts.  Notebook covers and coffee cup cozies.

June, ready for the summer - we will be making a classic, pillowcase dresses.

Want to join us?  If you sign up for any 3 classes and pay in advance, you'll receive a $20 discount.  If you've taken a class with me - I'd love to hear what you think and share with everyone.  I love seeing what you all create!  Thanks for sewing with me!

xoxo,

Trish

Uncomfortable

Funny thing this whole faith thing, isn't it?  I mean, for those of you that believe in a higher power, whatever it may be, do you ever get those moments when you just go..."Ohh, freaky?!".

And by that I mean, a message just seems to totally stick in your head and motivate you?

I thought that for Monday, I would blog about how cold it's been, how I just can't seem to warm up and how I made myself this scarf.

And I started to plot out a few quick instructions I would share on the scarf so you could make one too.  Plotting as I woke this morning and got everyone up and going.  And then, as we always do, we headed off for church.

I totally love our worship service.  I grew up in a very traditional church where our service was the same most Sundays.  And my current church still offers that however, we opt to go to the contemporary service.  For one, my kids are in sunday school and so this is the service we can go to after their class.  Second, our dear close friends happen to be the worship band leaders.  And they totally rock.

And this Sunday, there were little video snippets that played before church began.  No music.  Just text. Asking if we were really "here".  What were we "hoping for"?  Hoping the service didn't go long?  Hoping to go home soon to eat lunch?  Hoping to sit back and just observe?  It was honest and uncomfortable.

Every Sunday, it's like this.  Something that stops you and grabs your attention and brings you for a moment into clear focus about why - just WHY we are sitting there in church.

And every Sunday, it's the same.  I'm hoping to get out of there soon.  Hoping the baby will sit still enough for me to grasp part of the sermon.  Hoping to go get a coke soon and hoping to get home and sew in the afternoon.  So much to do before the week starts.

And every Sunday, most Sundays, it's something like that first message - am I REALLY HERE - that makes everything around me disappear, makes my eyes focus on the cross, brings tears to my eyes and makes me remember what has been given to ME so I can have children, lunch, a sewing machine, a big glass of coke...a life.

Much of today's sermon was focused on doing what we've been asked and doing it when we are too comfortable.

Too comfortable in our chairs to get up and share a message with someone who really needs it today.

Too comfortable to not just write a check for money but to go out and give of our time.

Getting uncomfortable.  Doing things that are hard.  Doing things we'd probably rather not do but then again, hey, I'm pretty sure Jesus wasn't very "comfortable" dying on the cross but He did it anyway...for me, for you - for all of us.  And asks us to just do one little thing.  Tell others about Him.

Google this.  Jeremiah 1:4-10.

And it's not comfortable for me to do that.  Because people come here from all over the place and from lots of different perspectives.  Different religions.  Or no religion at all.  Everybody has a journey that led them to where they are.  And this is mine and I'm doing what I feel that I'm called to do.  I hope you'll allow me to do that now and again with you and I'd love for you to do that with me as well, with all of us.

Sharing faith can be very hard.  Uncomfortable.  Is this really the right forum?  Should I talk about this here?

Of course I should.  Of course you should.  Of course this is the right forum.

Which is why I thought when I wanted to write about how cold I've been - how I can't seem to get warm lately because of our freezing temperatures - how "uncomfortable" I've been in my sewing room (I even talked about this at my sewing class last Friday!) - that today's message and my message - seemed to have a purpose.  Right?

{Yep, so Thursday (here comes the "how to make a scarf" bit) - I cut scraps of fabric 6.5" wide and whatever length they were, stitched them together using a 2.5 stitch length.

Pressed the seams to one side and top stitched.  Once I had a long enough strip of around 64" or so, I layed it out on some fleece I had.  Cut around it, pinned and with right sides together, stitched it on leaving an opening for turning.  Turned it right side out.  Pressed it.  Topstitched all the way around and closed my opening.}

Then I wrapped it around my neck and that's where it's been every day since.  Making me more comfortable on those cold uncomfortable days.  See the analogy here?  I sure do.

xoxo,

Trish