Also....curtains

I finished the bathroom curtains (finally) before Thanksgiving.  It's hard to see here, but they have gold flecks on them, it reminds me of spray from the water, appropriate for an ocean themed bathroom.  (sort of, I chose the paint as an ocean color.  The bathroom has no decoration.)

New Curtains

I no longer have the bright morning sun shining in my eyes every day!  Of course, it's only one of two windows in the room-the other window has to wait until I have $ for more material.  But the other window also has blinds, so it's not so bad.  I wish I had the money to make curtains for all the windows in the house!

Quilts & free patterns!

I ran into this site, for free patterns of all different things.  Sewing, knitting, crochet, printables, etc.  I found a page of doll quilts, but neater still, it shows quilts from different periods of history that match with each of the American Girl dolls.  A lesson in sewing, history, and fun!  It's always nice to find more than you were looking for!

Sewing and kids and boys

Teaching all the kids to sew is on my list of things to do.  Well, the list in my head.  (I write tons of lists, I am a big listmaker.  Does all the stuff on my lists get done?  Well, no.  But I really like to make the lists anyway.  It clears my head and straightens out my thoughts.)  But I love the thought of all the creative things that the kids could make!  Here's Soulemama's post on her boys' creative sewing efforts.  She just bought them their own sewing machine.  Her oldest just turned nine.   (Hmmmm......my mother promised me a sewing machine when I turned 12.......it took her until my wedding to get it for me!!) 

Some of our presents, cards, and crafts

Extra Timmy artwork

Laura crocheting, Justin's clothespin doll, Laura's very pretty clothespin doll, A tent I made for Timothy, but he helped draw some of the parts (door and flag top and base)

Justin's dinosaur for Jacob

Timothy's airplane for Jacob

Leanna's heart for Jacob

I had Leanna sew 3 pieces of felt together. I later glued some velcro on the backs of the wood pieces so they can be attached to the felt and moved about.

Brownie Awards and sewing

We went to the Brownie meeting tonight because they were talking to parents about camping and there was a short awards ceremony where they gave out the Try-Its the girls earned. The Girl Scout Law, which Leanna apparently needs to be reminded of.

A bag they gave me for helping out at the fairgrounds cleanup.

Leanna just wanted her picture taken.

Justin and Timothy showing their patches! They earned a try-It from helping at the fairgrounds cleanup as well.

The Try-Its that Leanna was awarded tonight, including the blue braclet.

The girls were working on a sewing Try-It tonight, but didn't finish yet. The leader said this is one of the hardest and most time-consuming ones. They're sewing little pillows. Last week they were sewing buttons.

Awesome hand-me-downs

My cousin Karissa's old toy (but real) sewing machine, now Leanna's. She's very excited to learn to use it, and I'm very excited for her to learn to use it too! I always wanted one and my Mom intended to get me my own when I turned 12, but it never did work out. I didn't get my sewing machine until I got married. It was a wedding present from my parents. You can be so creative with a sewing machine, I can't wait to find out what things she will make!!