Elephants

Corinnea asked me to make a diaper/wipe holder out of this adorable elephant fabric we just got in for her daughter who is expecting.
I'm so proud of it becasue it's a one-way fabric. I always avoided this kind of fabric when making these but now since I altered the pattern it will be easy. Yay!

**that's Lauren from the frame shop in the above photos.

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Below is a picture that Mary framed for me. It's a black apple print appropriately named Ava:) The print is about 8x10 but looks small in this picture. Thanks Subaru Ho!

And this fabric....swoon...I have to have this! It's Critter Camp by Michael Miller.

Did I mention I'm going home???? After 4.5 years??? Did I? Oh, I did..But did I tell you that only my parents have met Ava? When she was 2 weeks old? It's been 2.5 years since I've seen any family. I need to see family, friends, SHOP and EAT! I expect to gain weight. Especially from here (weird it's named that, huh?). And as of now I'm ok with that (I'll let you know how ok I am after I gain the weight) I love this place. I love chili cheese dogs. LOVE THEM! Especially Pretzel Bun Chili Cheese Dogs...salivate

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And I expect to go broke at baby gap and target and Joann's and Michael's. So far I've only heard of one independent fabric store there. When I lived there I didn't quilt, I sewed so I never looked for that kind of fabric store. We have an Anthropologie in two of our malls and an H&M:) I want to get a pedicure for $10. I want to get Starbucks EVERYDAY from every corner in San Diego. I'm about to pee my pants with excitement!!! 2.5 more weeks!! I have to go change my pants:)

One for Me, One for GFIAC

This diaper/wipe holder is for me! I finally made one for myself. I carry underwear for Emily, a diaper for Ava, wipes and a thin laminated changing pad. I use it ALL the time. I had been using one that was a gift but it didn't have a strap and I like the strap.
Then I made one for the one and only, Girlfriend in a Coma, a.k.a. "Jocelyn" who just gave birth (well, about 4 weeks ago) to a beautiful baby girl named
Mireille (mee'RAY) a.k.a. "Mimi". She is mother chuckn cute! The hair on this baby...

It's made from Japanese import fabric, the same one I made the Sophia bag from.
I hope you like it Jocelyn:)

**It has not been sent like i said it would be. I'm sorry Jocelyn, I'm usually SO good about mailing stuff but it's been a crazy week with the whole ticket home thing being cancelled.

Oh, that reminds me! We got our tickets...again!!! This time we paid for them. Us, not anyone else, thank you very much! We can't eat for 6 months or buy gas or deodorant but we're going home for 3 weeks!!! We're going to Disneyland, Sea World, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild animal Park, the beach so the girls can play in the sand and so many more things!! I for once Love my hometown! Usually I don't want to move back there but right now it's looking sweet for a visit since most of those places are within minutes of my parents house:)

School House Tunic

I finally made this top that everyone at the shop has already made.

(Corinnea, Katelyn, Jenny, Lizy, Kara, Kelly and who else...)

I got the ties-on-the-side idea from Kara. Thanks Kara!

The School House Tunic and fabric is Anna Maria Horner Voile. It's like butter. Truly. What made me finally make it was Jenny's new top here. Something about how hers was more fitted in the bust and I love it. I made the 10/12 without any modifications to fit except adding the side ties and sleeve ties.

I added some details to make it more fitted, less boxy. I'm already shaped like a box in the waist/hip area (a.k.a. Jenny Square Pants) I don't need my clothes making it worse!

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Photo of Emily taken after her birthday party.

This is Emily on the left and Ava on the right. Both at age 2.5 years and in the same bikini.

I'm on the 5th book of the Sword of Truth Series and listening to book 2 on audio while I sew. Can you tell I love these books?

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Yesterday we found out that the military is NOT covering our tickets home to visit. NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THEM (at least not till after we move). Long story but we think we've got a way to pay for our tickets now ($4000 thank you very much!). It involves pimping Jon out. Any takers?

Emily's 5th Birthday Party!

Emily's party was last Saturday and I'm just getting to uploading the pictures.

Mary made TWO cakes!! Two!! A donut and an Oreo shaped cake (both cake molds from Williams Sonoma in case you wanted to know). The donut had a cream layer and the Oreo of course had a peanut butter layer:)
Thank you Mary:)

Jon didn't take a lot of photos...and my usual picture person (kelly) wasn't at the party. So I don't have the usual 100 or so pictures to choose from:)

**click on photo to enlarge

That one above of Ava and Jamie makes me laugh! They are so alike except Jamie is outgoing:) I met Susi (Jamie's mom) on Flickr (through sewing and swapping pools) and invited her down for the day since she only lives about 2 hours from here.

**click on photo to enlarge

Thanks everyone for coming. I know Emily had a lot of fun! I can't believe my baby is 5! She'll be in Kindergarten in a couple of months. crazy!
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One of Emily's gifts below and I forgot to take a picture of the ribbon wands I made for the goody bags. They are soo cool!

Emily Happy Birthday song

From Butch to Sweet

I didn't even want to post the photo above because it's so unflattering. But you have to see the difference. I didn't do as good a job as i did on the 4th of July t-shirts but it's still better. I took photos while cutting and sewing this shirt back together but I'm not ready to post a tutorial.
Anyway, I've had this boxy man's-style t-shirt for years and never wore it. I couldn't get rid of it because it's an Emily shirt (Emily's namesake). I'm not sure why but the neck didn't turn out as good as the others. The sleeves are the same; I gathered them using a 1/4" wide clear elastic. I don't like how they sit on my arms though. They look as if they are folded...or something.

I'm learning what I can do and can't regarding these kind of alterations. So one day I will have the cutest refashioned men's shirt:)

A video of Ava trying to stay awake. I warn you, she looks a little creepy at times with her eyes rolling around. It's still pretty funny:0