A New Purse

Lately I have been seeing so many homemade purses and bags around and I wanted to make one of my own, but was unable to find a pattern that I really liked...at least liked enough to bother trying. I wanted to take on this challenge because you can make it your own, and pick out fabrics that you like...its personalized :) But, I became succesful this past weekend when I discovered that Fabricland had a massive sale on all of their in-stock fabrics. Everything in the store was 50%...so those designer fabrics that cost a pretty penny suddenly floated down the line into my price range. I picked up some fabric and patterns to make both myself and my darling daughter sundresses for the summer (no, they don't match) and while I was shopping I fell in love with a certain fabric. I carried it in my mind through out my whole trip there and I really wanted to purchase it. However, I didn't want to purchase the fabric with no pattern to use so I flipped through the pattern books and found nothing I really liked. And then I thought : "The fabric is 50% off today....and it won't be tomorrow". So I purchased a couple meters with the hopes of converting it into a bag once I found a design I liked. I headed to another store to shop for a sewing machine (which will be my birthday, mothers day and anniversary present from my husband, family and girlfriend). I was just looking for what I would like to one day have. While I was there, I checked out what they had for patterns, and found one that I liked and thought would fit the fabric I chose quite well. This is what I came up with :

Its got a button closure, and next time I am going to attempt to use a bigger button.

Its also reversible, so I can pick whichever way makes me happy that day. I kinda think that I will leave it the other way around because I like that fabric much better.

And here is a close up of the fabric.

Soooooooo Big!!

Camia this morning showed mommy and daddy how big she was for the first time by herself. 

How big is Camia? SOOOOOOOOO Big!!!

My little Bean.

A Bag For Beach Days

Last August, right before we went camping, I decided that I would make a beach bag so we could carry all our stuff to the beach with no problems. Unfortunately, I did not get it complete in time for camping, and it sat in the closet until now, 8 months later. This week seems to be a 'complete all unfinished projects week'. Its been fun, and greatly rewarding to think that I have 3 down, and so many more to go. I've been working on projects that are old (like the cape which I started before Camia was born, and now, the beach bag.) and my 'to do' pile is growing shorter and shorter. 

Never fear, however, because there are many more that I've recently started, or are continuous project such as my scrapbooks (although they are in much need of undivided attention as well) and cards. 

For this bag, I chose a bright fabric (and the prettiest one on the sale rack last summer), perfect for summery days on the beach! And, since summer is not yet gracing our presence, this bag will suit just fine for those hours we spend at the pool these days. There are big pockets on the front

and little pockets on the sides.

I put pockets inside for the little things and ran out of material for the pocket on the other side. Miscalculation on my part since I have lots of left over bits of fabric.

This project was a bit more than I bargained for, it was a challenge. It took a few breaks and alot of seam ripping to figure the pattern out. And if I look at it again, I think 'duh'. :D That being said, I very much enjoyed the challenge and the toying with my brain this pattern did. 

A Cape for soccer games!!

I finally finished a project that I started before Camia was born. A cape for all those soccer games we plan on going to this summer to keep her little head warm and her body cozy. It was fun to make. I chose a light green because I at that time didn't know we were going to be blessed with a beautiful daughter and thought it was a pretty neutral colour. Green does look good on her, I must say :). I made pom poms for the hat and for the straps, which adds that perfect kiddish touch, I think. (though the idea of pom poms was not my own, but included in the pattern... :D)

Aunt Jane's Dress

Before I was even married (but engaged, I believe), I had an aunt move to Holland who was liquidating her 'don't move with me to Holland' stuff. In the stuff that we were going through together, there was this darling dress that I said I would love to have for my daughter, if I ever had one. Well, it's been over a year and a half since I got married, and 9 months since my first child, a daughter, was born. Today she wore that dress for the very first time. I had intended it for a Christmas dress, but had completely forgotten about it. Truth be told, I forgot about it until my aunt came to visit in February for her parent's 50th wedding anniversary. I thought that I would quickly pull it out to show her that it fit well, but alas, I forgot that whole 2 weeks while she was here. (I think those cells that were fried while I was pregnant are still fried sometimes) So, she gave me her email address and gave me specific instructions to email her pictures of my daughter in the dress. I pulled the dress out of storage, and it hung on the banister for about a week or so when I finally decided to put it on her today. I love the dress, and so did Ryan's family members. And, it makes me feel better to think that the dress would have been too big for Camia at Christmas as it fits wonderfully right now. (valid excuse?? I think so...even though I forgot about the dress I had to have :))

Climbing Stairs

This past week was exciting as Camia learned how to climb up the stairs. She still needs a bit of help as she slips every now and then, but in general she is pretty good at it. Our 14 steps is a long climb, and sometimes I think that when she looks back, it scares her. Her little body gets quite tired out as she reaches the 4th or 5th step, but I think even that is an accomplishment for my little bean. She has taken to following either Ryan or I to the stairs and sits at the landing contemplating if the accent is worth the effort. Its the going down that needs major work. Today while we were at Ryan's moms for lunch, she tried to go down the one step there, and ended up doing a faceplant on the hardwood because she neglected to go down backwards. Something we need to work on, but I guess we need to do one thing at a time. 

All this rapid learning is so exciting, and keeps me on my toes as now I have to be much more concious of where she is and where she might be going.

There is nothing quite so sweet....

I decided that since Camia is 9 months old already, it was time to do a birth announcement. I started it 2 weeks ago, and gave myself a 1 week deadline. At the end of that one week, I was so close to finishing it but was so unsuccessful. Oh well. I quess 2 weeks is just as well as well :). 

I've been shopping for a design since before she was born but am quite picky with all the baby designs that are out there. I was wandering around Wal-Mart when I saw this one and thought it was a cute idea. I especially loved the idea of stamping her feet. That is what actually motivated me to get this project done: her feet aren't getting anny smaller! As it is, it was a tight squeeze. With Ryan holding her body and I her feet, the first print went so well and I became pretty excited about the second one. As you can see, the second one did not turn out so well. (the second one being the left one.) I figured that since I wasnt sure if her feet were going to fit in the space provided, I would try to stitch the bottom line of words first and then stamp her feet and move the top line of words up a few lines. Well, she suqirmed a little and we stamped right on top of the lettering. Rather than pull it all out (or completly re-start), I re-stitched those few stiches, and it turned out pretty well still. Yay!! One project of many completed! Now, onto the next one.

The Zoo!!

A few days ago, I was driving to my sister's house and passed the zoo. I thought this would be an awesome place to go for an hour or so. I didn't think Camia would get anything out of it, but she went bananas, especially by the hippo cage. She pursed her lips most of the time, exclaiming 'ooo, ooo, ooo'. It was so fun!

I am looking forward to scrapbooking this page, it will be fun. (even though I am still 6 months behind!) She also loved the little pig. She wouldnt let go of the cage to move on and loved it when he touched her little fingers with his cold, wet snout.

She loved it when Auntie Trina pushed the stroller...she got poppa wheelies!!

On The Move!

Last week my baby figured out that she can motor from place to place by crawling without flopping around. She got up on all fours, and started exploring. And, yes, getting into everything. Anything that she can pull off a shelf, she will definately try. My magazine doesnt have a cover anymore. 

A few months ago I was in the states with my friend Theresa and I found this cute shirt. I thought is was perfect for when she started to move, and would fit well in my scrapbook of her first year. The store had a special if you buy two and Camia had dirtied the clothes she was wearing. Mommy, in her infinite wisdom, neglected to pack a change of clothes (in my defence I was thinking I would have more room in the diaper bag if I didnt pack a change of clothes. After all, she very rarely went through clothes anyways, and the sleeper was just taking up valuable space!) so I thought I could buy it for her along with her new outfit. And finally she gets to wear it!!She is quick on all fours, and needs to be constantly watched now. The gate at the top of the stairs is used quite frequently since the 14 steps is a long way down. I'd rather her not experience her first independent descension of the stairs to be rolling uncontrollably to the bottom. That might be ugly.

Now that she's got the crawling thing under control, it's time to perfect the standing thing. She tries so hard, and so far the only places she's able to pull herself confidently to a standing position is in her bed, the bathroom sink and the bathtub. Well, actually, she needs help to pull herself up in the bathroom sink :).

Card Making Frenzy

This past Saturday, Ryan and his brother Don decided that they were going to go out and have an XBOX night with their cousins, so Dons wife Tien and I decided that we were going to get together and have a card making night. I found a fun paper design at the local scrapbook store and was excited to use the rest of it up. I had already made Ryans mom a birthday card:

and I wanted to make more to use it up. I made one more card and still have some left to make a few more.

I also found this polka dot paper at the scrapbook store an

d went through my inventory to see what I could match it with, since I have oodles of paper that needs to be used eventually :). The stripes is the polka dot paper flipped around. I thought this paper also suited my 'summer by the sea' stamp set quite well.

After this, I still had some other paper left over that I wanted to use, so this is what I did: I kinda borrowed the idea from Tien :)

My intent for this evening was to make my nephew a birthday card, and after these 4, that task was still not complete. So, I got to doing that. I found oober cute snail paper that I though would be perfect for his birthday. I borrowed a layout idea from my all-time favourite website Splitcoaststampers.com and completed the card in less than a half hour. Its not quite complete as I dont have any turtle stamps or stickers, and am waiting on another scrapbooker to borrow something to finish it. It's all good. My nephew's birthday isnt until March 18.

Now, I need to go wake up my bean from her nap. I know, it's 6:50, but she's been down since 5, and I need her to sleep through the night.