Summer's Coming To An End!

It's Labor Day weekend and that means, my husband goes back to school, my son goes back to school, and we get back to a routine.  I love Fall!  I love the crisp clean air, the cool nights, the fun fall things that we do, but I love having my husband home during the summer!

This summer we have had a pretty quiet, but fun summer.  Overall, the weather was really nice.  We had some days that were uncomfortable hot, but for the most part, the days were enjoyable!

Enjoy some pictures from our summer fun!

We celebrated 5 years of marriage

waiting for fireworks

waiting for fireworks

waiting for fireworks

me and my hubby

playing at the beach 4th of July

learning to swim

Ran our first 5K

playing at the park

playing in the sandbox

amaranth from our garden grown from seed

blueberry picking

Hanging in Newburyport

Museum of Science

The Basin Franconia Notch New Hampshire

Making soap

North Conway Railway

Family Portrait at The Basin

Flying airplanes

York Beach

The Park

Michael's granny square afghan

Poppy cat for Michael

Poppy cat for Michael

doll bed, quilt, mattress, pillow, and quilt, as well as a rag rug for Eva Rose's Doll

Rag quilt for Thomas and Eva Rose

We didn't do crazy things this summer, but we had a blast.  I loved being able to share time with our children and  not feeling like what we did had to be some crazy commercialized summer.  I love being able to look back at our pictures and remembering the fun times that we had.  We may not have a ton of money to do crazy expense  things, but we are able to spend good quality time and create loving lasting memories for our children.  I am so thankful that my husband is able to spend time with us.  I love being able to spend time creating things for my children and creating memories for our family!  As happy as I am to be getting back to a routine, I will miss our summer fun and lazy family days.  Here'd to next summer!

Amy

My Newest Crafting Experiment

I finally started to attempt to make soap.  I was a little fearful, partially from others telling me how dangerous it could be and partly because of my own crazy mind, though I think others remarks had helped to make my mind worry more than it would otherwise.  I also have this crazy fear of failure in anything and everything I do.  I like to be perfect in everything I do, and I have a hard time remembering that most of the time, it takes a lot of practice to get things perfect, even close to perfect.

I finally made the decision to go ahead and try it.  How hard could it be?  I definitely made sure that I researched and read up on making soap in a crock pot.   I watched many a youtube video on crockpot soap making and finally decided that I was comfortable attempting it.

I made sure that I had my iPad right next to me with a youtube video going.  I made sure that the kids were all in bed and fast asleep.  I made sure that I had gloves and vinegar in case I spilled the lye.  I didn't spill the lye.  Things went well and I had soap the next day.  I learned that there are better lye calculators than others, or at least there are many lye calculators and people have different feelings about the different ones that are out there.  Personally, I like http://soapcalc.net for all the info that I get and as a new soap maker, I really appreciate what it gives me.

I learned that there are many different oils that can be used and different outcomes.  My first soap was pretty soft and then once I found different oils, I found that you can make a harder soap right from the start.  My most recent soap consists of olive oil, coconut oil, and crisco, yes crisco.  I'm not really sure how I feel about crisco, but it seems to work well.  I now plan to try Walmart shortening and see how soap with that vs crisco is.  

I love making soap and plan to continue making it, experimenting with different oils and scents.  I may, at some point, attempt cold process, but that takes a little longer before the soap is ready.  I can't wait to learn more.

I have been pretty productive this summer.  I could always be more productive, but I am happy with what I've done.  I still plan to try to make some things for my twins group and hope that I can finish a few things to donate for them to sell at our national convention.  I also hope to start creating more for charity and maybe become part of a specific charity, Enchanted Makeovers.

A few picture of my soap and other projects from this summer!

First soap ever in the mold

first soap out of the mold cut and drying

rag quilts for the twins

doll bed, with quilt and rag rug

soap for Michael's teachers in the mold

soap for Michael's teachers cut waiting to be wrapped

my new pincushion

mixing my latest soap

latest soap at trace

soap cooking in the crockpot

soap almost finished cooking

soap molded and cooling. Can't wait to cut it tomorrow!

This is jut a few of the projects that I have completed and have been working on.  I have a few other things in process and can't wait to find time to finish them.  I can't what to get things organized so that I can have more time to craft rather than finding where to craft, a place to craft and then remembering to clean up!  Loving being creative!

Amy

Halloween and Way Back When-esday

Halloween 2009 (Dorothy and the 2 scarecrows)

We have a lot of Halloween celebrations this year.  One of the positives about getting laid off, is that I can now go to all these things at night with the kids.  We have a town Halloween night tomorrow, a Halloween party for Michael's school Friday, a Halloween party Sunday for my twins' group, and then of course it's Halloween Monday!  Last year was our first year being able to enjoy trick or treating with the kids.  Michael's first Halloween I had gotten put on bed rest 2 days earlier, and then the twin's first Halloween, we attended my sister's wedding.

I have at least attempted to make part of our costumes.  This is year no exception.  I have to admit that I am not taking as much time as I probably should.  Part of it is because they are costumes for not quite 3 year olds and a 2 1/2 year old, and part of it is because I procrastinated thinking that I had more time than I did, and now I think things will be worse if I stress about making the costumes perfect!  They will look good, but will definitely have short cuts.  As much I like crafting and creating, I don't know that I like sewing clothes.  I like sewing in general, but clothing is not my favorite.

I am almost done with the boys costume, and I need to complete (for the most part) Eva Rose's costume.  Hopefully by bedtime, I will have finished all the costumes and will only have to hem Eva Rose's costume tomorrow after she tries it on.  The boys' costumes are a little big, kind of on purpose to accommodate warm clothes.  Hopefully Eva Rose's costume will fit well enough.

Here's a sneak peak.

Amy

Newest Crafting Projects

So the holidays are officially over and I didn't get a chance to make as many handmade things for the kids, or anyone else.  Hopefully things will settle down, and I  can get into a routine for me and the kids.  I am hoping that with a better routine, I will be able to get more done, including crafting for the kids.  I have so many things that I want to make, but there is just not enough time in the day.  I always knew that once I had kdis, I wanted to put my love of crafting to good use for them.  The next projects on the list are:  knit hats for all three as well as mittens, a doll and doll accessories like: quilt, clothes, maybe even a moses basket, a car caddy for each of the boys, since they are so into cars, especially Thomas.  There are also the multiple quilts that I want to make for the kids and others!  I better get that routine down so that I can set aside time to craft and get these projects done.  Thankfully, I set aside Monday nights to get together with a friend and create.  Oh, there is also the multiple scrapbooks that I need to work on.  Good god, I have way to many projects that I want to make!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Halloween

So, this year, we were actually able to go out and trick or treat around the neighborhood (all 5 of us).  It was a blast.  I was a little stressed right up til we went out, but everything ended up perfect.  I made 3 of the 5 costumes, yes even mom and dad dressed up, and was sewing right up til the last minute.  I was so stressed that I was thinking I was not going to be sewing again for quite some time.  Once everything was done and all costumes were on,  I was so psyched with how everyone looked, that I decided I loved to sew and will not be putting it off (in fact I am going to partake in an apron swap, my first sewing swap!).  All 3 kids started off slow, not really sure what they should be doing, but soon after, they were running up to the door to get their goods!  By the time we went to visit family and friends outside the neighborhood, we had been out for almost 2 1/2 hours.  The kids were exhausted and ready for their last milk of the night and then off to bed!

Here are some pictures of our latest Halloween!

Michael

Eva Rose

Thomas (I made his costume)

Family photo (I made part of my costume, all of Tom's costume, and all of Thomas' costume)

Happy Halloween Everyone (a little late),

Amy

Halloween

In just a few short days, Halloween will be upon us.  I actually really like Halloween.  Even as an adult with no kids, I would dress up.  Since we live just a short distance away from Salem MA, we would often enjoy spending Haloween night in Salem enjoying the festivities, often dressed up ourselves.  Now that we have kids, Salem is pretty much out, which is fine by us!

This Halloween will be the first year that we get to take the kids trick or treating.  Michael's first Halloween, 2008, was when I was first put on bed rest with the twins.  On October 28th, I stayed up well past midnight to finish Michael's scarecrow costume for trick or treating at work the next day.  I had to leave work early for a scheduled ultrasound and planned to return that night with Michel in his costume.  Unfortunately after that ultrasound, I was on bed rest until the twins were born January 23rd 2009.  My husband took Michael around the neighborhood quickly and then I sat in the car while we drove to special people's homes, ie aunts, uncles, close cousins, daycare.  Halloween 2009, the twins first Halloween, was my sisters wedding.  We were able to get them dressed up, but again no real trick or treating.  This year is different.  We get to do the normal trick or treating, and I get to enjoy it.

Last year, I made all three kids' costumes.  This year, I am only making Thomas'.  I feel bad about that, but sometimes there just isn't enough time.  And the more I think about it, it is appropriate that Thomas gets his costume made since he almost never gets new things, always gets hand me downs (don't get me wrong the other two get hand me downs too, just Michael was the first boy and Eva Rose is the only girl).  This year, I got Michael's costume from another twin mom.  Eva Rose's costume is somewhat upcycled.  I got this hand me down dress that was adorable, but I new she's grow out of it before she would have a chance to wear it as is.  As it is, it is fitting her tight now!  Then I made Thomas'.  I am trying to decide if I want Tom and I to dress up also.  Tom dressed up Michael's first year and last year, so I'll probably try to have everyone in costume this year too.

As a little tease, the boys are going to be pirates and Eva Rose is going to be a fairy.  I am going to try to find a way for Tom to be a pirate and me to be a fairy.  We'll se how it goes since Sunday will be here before we know it!  Pictures to come later!

Amy

Quilts and Other Crafting Projects

I just realized that another twin mom not only has her regular http://goddessinprogess.com blog, but has a quilting blog along with it.  I just spent some time reading about all her different quilting projects and it has totally inspired me to add quilting back into my projects to work on.  Right now I am in the process of making a Halloween costume for my little son, Thomas.  I just cut out the pattern for the jacket of his pirate costume.  I have already made the pants and now I have to sew the jacket, the belt, and the hat.  I feel bad that Michael's costume is a costume that I bought from another twin mom, but i will make his hat.  I also am not really making Eva Rose's costume.  I am using a dress that I got from a family member that won't fit her for long.  I'm going to add wings to it and have her be a fairy.  If all goes well, I will make her wings, but I may even buy them just to save time.  I would love to have made all of their costumes, but I just wanted to have them have costumes since this is the first year that we will actually be trick or treating.

I have some other things that I need to work on, but I really want to start quilting again.  I have a bunch of projects that I want to make, but as usual, I just keep adding projects to the list.  I am considering attempting my hand at hand sewing some quilts just to make them more portable.  It's probably crazy on my part, but I really want to make sure that I have portability with my crafting projects.  I have lots of knitting, regular sewing, scrapbooking, card making, and now quilting to do.  I love that I can make things for people, especially my own children.  I just need to find a way to get more organized so that I have more time to create all these projects that I dream of.

I love going to craft stores like Joann's, Ac Moore, and Michael's.  I would love to find other stores to browse around, but I am always so tempted to buy things, especially things I don't need.  I really need to start coming up with projects that utilize the supplies I have, so I have more room, don't spend money that I don't have, and just plain use up what I have.  Though, if there are good crafting resources that people want to recommend, either via internet, books, magazines, I am always on the lookout for new resources.

I also really want to start being part of a swap.  I did a few knitting and crocheting swaps before I had kids, but I haven't done any since before grad school 4 years ago.  One of these days I'll get back to swapping!

Amy