Happy Easter!

Hope you have a nice one! I'm cooking this year! I've never made Easter dinner and I thought it would be a good idea to start...I think it'll be ok.

bags 2 - loremor 0

They beat me...I was trying so very hard but I was not able to fight with them any longer. I decided to branch out a little and make another type of bag. I mean I LOVE the Amy Butler, birdie sling but I wanted to try so thing new. I've had my eye on the beautiful purse patterns by Keyka lou so I figured I'd give one a try...

I used the sweetheart shopper pattern.

and yes, that is a zipper and I can safely say that I WILL NEVER make anything that requires a zipper again! This is the better one of the two...same pattern.

So I was feeling sorry for myself...I thought "I'll just make a birdie sling! I can practically make them in my sleep!" NOPE!!! I screwed that up too! I was having a horrible friday/saturday! I'm still reworking the sling so I have no pictures (or none that I'll actually post!)

Good times...

A friend and I enjoying a rare night out! Whohooo! I was the designated driver so I only enjoyed 2 of these concoctions...plus a ton of coffee.

=^_^= swoon =^_^=

It's here and it's lovely!

Spring Break...in my mind

Right now I am sitting on the beach (in my mind) in Cancun Mexico.

Sipping on a Margarita (in my mind)

and working on my tan (in my mind)

My spring break has officially began! No School for me, all week! so I'm on vacation (in my mind)

Reflection.

When I look at my son, it's like looking in the mirror. He looks nothing like me...all dad. But sometimes I feel as though he's my reflection. He struggles...with school, with his emotional well-being and self-esteem. I see myself in him everyday and it makes me sad. I know how hard his life will be...but how do I help him? How can I prevent all the hardship he is sure to endure...I know it. I live it. Will I be able to explain it to him...prevent it somehow? My dad struggled so much with me...did he see himself in me? He's never said. His tactics didn't work with me...he is old-school, Mexican through and through. I will not resort to that. But I want my son to make it, to be someone and I don't want it to come to late. As it has with me.

I just needed to talk to someone...and it's easier to open up here.

...like a bee.

I had a very productive weekend. First The western quilt top...I like the looks of it so far. But I didn't work on it as much as I wanted to, I got this far on Sunday afternoon...the rest of the weekend was spent making bags!


This bag I made for my sister...she bought the fabric and I had the pattern. I think I'm getting better...just don't look too closely! You'll see that my straight lines, wave a little at times.

The lining is a DARK purple with black polka dots so it was very hard to photograph.

I modified the pattern and put outside pockets on the sides...like she requested. I also split the handle in 2 instead of the sling handle the pattern originally calls for.

The next bag I made for the other sister, it's a diaper bag and it's SO CUTE! I love it and I can see me making a LOT more of these for future babies to come...unfortunately none will be my own (that ship has sailed). I used the same Amy butler pattern with similar modifications as above...except I put the outside pockets in the front of the bag.

I love the little iron on frogs!

I hope the mama-to-be love the bag and uses it often!

This morning as I was getting ready for work...I was thinking about how crafty I am (as I looked at all available surfaces that are/were covered in supplies...yarn, hooks, pins, scissors, scrap fabric...) but it dawned on me that my whole family is crafty. You've seen my crafts...but my other sister is an interior designer that's pretty crafty. The other sister is a cake decorator and she does an awesome job. Our dad dabbles in working with wood...I wish I had pictures of the work he's done but I do not. Take my word for it...he does a good job too.

So I come from a family of crafters and I think it really neat!

All this could be yours...

Just by Visiting While they play and entering her Destash giveaway! Where her allergy can be OUR gain!!! ummm really sorry about the allergy though!

WisHy, wAshY

I feel as though I'm all over the place...spread too thin...going no where FAST. Ever have those days? Try months! I think it's school...I get completely wrapped up in myself. I've neglected friends and family and crafting. I'm slowly finding my center...where all things balance out. I called Janice and made a girl-date with her (might happen). Spring break for the boys has been a nice break...maybe D will go back to school refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the school year...and hopefully pass 8th grade?! and crafting...{smile} I've done some of that too!

This is going to SIL for a baby shower...

and I started my cowboy quilt! I'm so excited about it...I know some of you out there in blogland would rather pierce your eardrums, then listen to some country but not me...I'm a cowgirl!

I'm a little stuck...originally I wanted to make the quilt like the picture above but then I thought maybe I could add a solid on one side like this...

(I know...blurry)but you get the idea! Thoughts?
Tonight I start a diaper bag for my sister. That should be...interesting?

Oh what a feelin!

No, I'm not dancing on the ceiling...but it's pretty close! I wanted to share some fabric goodness!
I love these patterns and I can't wait to start cutting! I'm hoping this one will come out a little straighter and a little more me.
These two (3) are for separate quilt tops...The smaller squares will go together and I'll be starting on those first! and the bigger pink squares are a funky retro pattern that looked so fun I couldn't pass it up!

I'm also crocheting! I'm just about finished with a baby blanket for my SIL. I should have pictures soon...I love spring! All my creativity start flowing again!

See, I do....

Crochet! I know I've veered of the subject of crochet for some time but I think it's burnout from the marathon afghan Christmas! Although I have made various small projects, the latest is the Phanie a free pattern from Berroco. I love how easy it was to make but I'll have to modify it for my gigantic head (I need a big brain to hold all my ideas) but enough of the dialog...

I like a slouchier (?) hat and this one isn't slouchy enough for my (BIG) head. I'll try again, maybe more rounds? But I love the color!

...Aloha!

This month The Morgan clan was tasked with surprising the MOTHER for her 50th birthday. It was great and she WAS surprised! We all had a task in the planning...I had the cake.

With the help of my baker sister. This is what we came up with. I also made the beach bag...remember this?

I still have one more item to complete...a Lei, I'll have it done this week. I know it's late but I was at a loss on the contruction of it. I think I've figure out how to now.

The family pitched in and bought the Mother a trip to Hawaii!

and here it is.

It's not completely finished yet but I should get the binding done this weekend. Any quilters out there...advice you'd like to share? I'm happy with it and all the mistakes because it's my first one but for next time I'd love to get it right!

Of Quilts and things...

Looking around at everyones creativeness (?) I was inspired to make a quilt. Yes, I know that just because I made a bag...doesn't mean I can sew, but I wanted to try anyway. Etsy is a fabulous place for all things crafty. I looked around and found a pattern that seemed easy enough, even for me! Bought all the supplies Saturday and got to work...well I'm done!
It's all wrong and uneven and I love it! The finished size from the pattern is 50 x 50 but I made mine closer to 60 x 60 only because the batting was cut 60 x 60 only now I find out that the batting shrinks?!
I don't have a good picture of it yet but as soon as I do I'll share with you first!

Good Ol' sew and sew...

I mostly made this by myself! Don't look too close or you'll see all the crooked lines and messed up stitching but it was my first time...I can't wait to give it another try. Maybe with practice I'll get better and be able to make one all by myself!

There's a Party in my tummy....with CAKE!

More cupcakes to share...These where made for my niece's 1st birthday. She loves yo gabba gabba!

My sister Stephanie did all the baking and Lisette and I, with the help of Stephanie did the decorating. *

She also made a cake but for some reason I didn't get a picture of it. Hopefully someone will email me a picture!?

Here's the cake!

*I made the fondant from scratch...I also colored most of it. I will NOT be doing that again!