wow. me? an award?

I was totally blown away when I got a comment from Jess {craftiness is not optional} giving me this award! Wow! Seriously. I totally admire her, and I am honored. Thanks, Jess!
The rules...

1. Thank the person giving you this award.

2. Copy the award to your blog

3. Place a link to their blog

4. Name 7 tidbits people don't know about you from reading your blog

5. Nominate 7 bloggers

6. Place a link to those bloggers

7. Leave a comment letting those Bloggers know about the award

So Congratulations to:

1. Create Studio

2. Samster Mommy

3. Funny Days with Mommy and Maddie

4. Crafterhours

5. Fiddlehead

6. Ruffles and Stuff

7. Sewing for Scarlett

{Seven facts about me}
1. I work at the same hospital I was born at, and have since I was 16.

2. I had a huge crush on my hubby in high school. He only knew me as "Noah's little sister." Eight years later we started dating, and a month later were engaged.

3. I had my 18th birthday in Kathmandu, Nepal.

4. I learned to sew in second grade on my mom's Bernina, and have always loved it.

5. I was named after both of my grandma's - Lila and Jo. I love my name.

6. Most of the time, I really do call my kids "Bug" and "Moo" instead of their names.

7. I hate being late. I would almost rather not go to an event than be late for it.

Kids Crafts: Week five

We welcomed this beautiful little goldfish tank into our home last weekend, and Moo has decided they are "dolphins." So adorable. She asks to see her dolphins and says "Ooh, Ooh, Cute Dolphins!" So, in honor of our new additions, we did ocean week! Painting the Ocean
Bug requested we pain the ocean, so we got our watercolors out and painted away! It was a little dark - black may have gotten mixed in with every color - so we did a little salt to break it up.
Mermaids
We downloaded this coloring page (I also bought the mermaid party kit for Bug's birthday. So cute!)
Paper bag puppets
My sister-in-law got this book for Bug on her birthday, and this is the first time we have used them. They had a great time coloring, but I tried to have them assemble onto the bag right after naps, and it didn't go over so well. Lesson learned in timing projects. See how happy both kids look?Folding Kissing fish

Bug did not like this one at first. She thought it should be a cutting project, but it was folding, and we hadn't done folding before. Maybe I need to add {this cutting book} that's like {this folding book} we have. By the time daddy got home, she was ready to show it off.
Hopping frogs

This one was so much fun we got the whole family involved. I got it at Big Lots in the Easter section for $2. They are impossible to aim, so we made them jump and Moo would tell us "yeah, mommy!" and go pick them up. Hilarious!
Ocean puzzle

Yet another thrift store find! I really am trying hard to keep Moo involved, but most of our projects are not age appropriate for 18 months. This kept both girls interest, and we worked on teamwork as we sang "What's going to work? TEAMWORK!" Thanks, Wonder Pets.

{for aunt kate}

I bought {this great pattern} last March with hopes of making it for my sister-in-law's birthday in June 2009. Well, I am a couple months late... hope she doesn't mind! I love how it turned out, the colors (which I don't usually go for) and the pattern just came together perfectly.
The fabric I cut for the back wasn't quite big enough, so I pieced the length of the back with extra fabric from the front and I think it's really cool. I almost want it to be the front of another quilt.
Update: She came over to pick it up and loves it! Hugh relief. Yeah! {She didn't even mind it was a couple months late. Love her!}

Hopscotch - tutorial!

So... it took me all week to get this together, but here it is!

Supplies:
Fabric - 1 yard main print, 2/3 yard secondary color, and 1/3 of border color,

Heavy cotton fabric for back- 1 1/4 yards

Rotary Cutter and mat
Freezer paper

Xacto blade

Fabric paint & brush

Iron, sewing mchine, thread, etc.

I recommend pre-washing all fabric.
Cut ten 10" squares from your main fabric, twelve 5 1/4 x 10" pieces of secondary color, and six 1 1/2" pieces for border. I also used my rotary cutter to cut twenty 9" squares of freezer paper. I used a Tahoma small cap font for my numbers (1-10), and they are all about 8" tall... give or take. I don't remember what size I had to print them at. Trace the numbers onto the matte side of the freezer paper and cut out with your xacto knife.This is a lot of cutting, I used a new blade and that helped it go a little smoother. Make sure you keep all the 'inside' parts to the numbers.

To keep the paint from bleeding through the fabric too much, lightly iron (2-3 seconds) one solid piece of freezer paper onto the back of your fabric. Turn it over and place your number on the front and iron. Repeat with all ten numbers.

I used Tulip brand paint because that's what was available to me. Do 2-3 light coats of paint, letting dry between coats. I left them for maybe half an hour between coats, then set them out overnight to dry. You might get a few bubbles if the paint is too thick, lifting it from the freezer paper in the back. Don't worry, just iron it upside-down (with no steam) and the bubbles come right out.

Once you are all ironed, sew the 4 and 5 together, and the 7 and 8 together. All other numbers get a solid on either side. Sew with right sides together and 1/4" seam allowances. Iron seams open.
Sew rows together in numerical order, iron seams open again.
Sew two of your 1 1/2" strips together, sew right sides together on long side of mat. Repeat for the other side. Finish with strips on top and bottom, again iron seams open. I used a heavy cotton for the back, and pieced it to be big enough. Sew with right sides together, leaving a 8" opening to turn through. I laid it out and pinned it because, well, I am a pinner. I can't help it. Turn right side out and topstitch. This gives it a little stability and reinforcement around the outside seam. I think it also helps it lay nicer. Enjoy!

Hotscopch

With sick kids (now plural, Bug is needing oxygen all day and Moo only needs it at night) I have been struggling with quiet, sit-still games. We have watched way too much tv, but I was inspired by an episode of Max and Ruby. Bug is absolutely fascinated with hopping on a 'hotscopch' so we set out to make one! Okay, so the actual playing hopscotch isn't a great sick kid activity, but the cutting and sewing kept Bug quiet and still and by my side. She loved the fabric paint! Maybe an art smock is next on my list of things to sew!
Tutorial on this to come sometime this week!
{tutorial here}

taggie love

For Moo's first Christmas, I made her a 'taggie' blanket. It has minkee on one side, cotton on the other and five tags on each side, ends up about 11" square finished. It was such a hit I had to make another one for Bug right after Christmas and two more for Valentines day. She carries one around with her all day. Well, the year-old taggies were looking old, so {inspired by this post} I made another today. A lot less ribbons, but a nice one we can take with us out of the house.

It's a hit! She crawled right up in bed and fell asleep. I used a little of the same fabric that's in her blanket my mom made.

Both kids have bad lungs, and every time they get sick it's lung-related. She just has a cold, but is hypoxic (low oxygen saturation) on room air. This is day two with oxygen, and she has more or less made peace with wearing it for the time being. The circle on her cheek? She is allergic to band-aid type things, and it's a rash from the sticky circles that help keep the oxygen in place. Between both kids, this is our fifth time with a kid on oxygen, and my kids call the Respiratory Therapist that brings the equipment out "grandpa." I think that's getting to know him a little too well.

I gave in

I am usually a big fabric snob. But when it comes to making my kids happy, I am willing to give a little. I don't really like a character theme room, but again... willing to comprimise some. Moo saw this Dora fabric and wasn't going to leave Wal Mart without it, so I gave in and bought a yard and made her a new pillowcase!

{with a little help of course}

Both of my kids still sleep in their Boppy pillows, even though they have a great big tag that says not for sleeping. We break the rules. The trouble is, they just get so dirty and are so expensive!I just took the old cover off and used it as a pattern, even making a hidden zipper for the first time!