Southern Sawyer

Goodbye 2011

2012-01-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Phew! 2011 was the quite the year. It was beautiful. It was hard. It was full of joy and a taste of sorrow.

The Little Man
welcomed his baby sister...

and turned the very BIG 3!

We struggled with some "terrible three's" that made the "two's" look like a cake walk.

He moved into is big boy room, with a big boy bed and demands to be called a big boy...no more baby!

He loves books, stories and movies.

Not very rambunctious unless he's hopped up on sugar.

He's recently taken an interest in sports and hunting...just like his Daddy.

The Little Lady
arrived without much fuss.

She is the calmest thing...the nursery teachers love her.

She is very healthy and happy.

She had beautiful dark brown air at birth and now it is a darker blonde.

Her huge blue eyes melt my heart.

Good eater, sleeper and pooper. What more could we ask for?

I was happy
to have the Little Lady a few days early...as it was a not-so-pleasant pregnancy.

Two weeks later, my grandmother went to claim her castle in heaven. I imagine it is a big, beautiful one, if you consider how many folks down here loved her and will visit her when we get there!

After 12 weeks of marvelous maternity leave, I went back to work.

It took at least 4 months for my heart to realize that I was choosing work rather than staying at home.

My heart and my brain were not on the same page, and my emotions were in constant limbo

and to make matters worse...

things weren't exactly peachy at work.

I'm still trying to untangle it all, but have decided to put it to prayer.

The Hubby
had a good year.

His own sports teams did really well,
but the Aggies were miserable.

He got to hunt some, but probably not enough.

He's adjusted to having 2 kids amazing well and is the main caretaker around the house.

He is our routine...without him we'd all be a mess.

I'm completely blessed.

Here's to 2012.
May it be a year full of joy and happiness.
I hope to take better care of myself.
Exercise more, drink more water and watch less tv.
Read more.
Write more.
Love more.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Oh Yes We Did! - Adrenaline 2011

2011-07-04T20:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my dear friend and I decided to take a break from mommyhood and go spend the day on an adventure course. To be totally honest, she asked me to go with her and I said yes....not really knowing what I was getting myself in to.

On the ride up to the adventure ranch, we were joking and laughing like a couple of 12 year old girls. And when we saw our first adventure task...not only was our laughing silenced... I began to feel regret that I had agreed to coming with her:

The Tower of Death.

But I'm happy to say that we both made it to the top of the Tower of Death and we jumped off that very top platform together. It was exhilarating...and frightening at the same time.

I was so nervous...I couldn't even smile correctly.

Weeeeeeee!

Then we went ZIP LINING! WHOO HOO, now that was fun! We wrapped up the day by kayaking! It was the shortest kayak ride in the history of "adventure coursing" though, because we were anxious to get back to our babies at home.

It was a physically tiring, emotionally draining, fun day. A roller coaster of adrenaline. I'm so glad that I went. Thanks, A!!!

Crochet Hat for my Baby Girl

2011-05-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hello! Just a quick pic of my sweet baby girl in a hat that I crocheted for her.....

Isn't she sweet? I loved the crochet pattern for this hat, however, I can't remember where I got it. :(

xoxo,
Kathy

Ruffle Upcycle

2011-05-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

I have been dying to make a ruffle tank ever since I found the Tea Rose Home blog. I took two of my old maternity shirts and UpCycled them to something I can wear now (post-maternity). Here's what I started with:
I sized the tank down by taking about an inch off the straps and 2 inches off each side. I cut up a pink knit maternity top into strips and made good use of my ruffle foot. Grabbed some old lace out of my stash....

and viola!

I LOVE RUFFLES!

Springy Happy Colors!

2011-05-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've been watching a LOT of HGTV since I have been home on maternity leave. Since I'm not ready to venture out to shop with a 3 week old infant, I've been inspired to look at my old stuff in new ways to jazz up the house a little bit! In my entry way, I threw on my Happy Colors Afghan (I crocheted over a year ago!)on the entry bench (from World Market), added the FAMILY blocks, and a Scentsy Lamb to celebrate spring!

The Scentsy Lamb gives a soft cotten/nursery scent to our entry area. I love thinking about all of our guests smelling sweet baby scents as they come in to visit our new little angel! :)

Blue Jean Purse - Before & After

2011-04-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

My Little Man had a pair of jeans that never quite fit him right. I put the jeans in the "donate" bag, but then realized that I could use upcycle them into something! My niece's 4th birthday was coming up and I wanted to make her a new purse to tote around her stuff!

There are a lot of "Blue Jean Upcycle" tutorials out there, but I ended up using my own creativity to come up with her purse. The best part: I used all scrap material to line the purse and make the belt! I added a removable ruffle flower brooch for some extra pizazz. YAY for cheap!

Diaper Bag Makeover: Ruffle Style

2011-03-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

I got a new toy last weekend: A Ruffler Foot! Ever since then, I've been day dreaming about everything I can add a ruffle to! Ruffles and ruffle flowers are turning up all over the place.

I recently received a free diaper bag from my employer's maternity program. A very roomy and sturdy bag....Thank you very much, boss man! The "Nurture" Program actually claimed that the generic look of the bag was a desired feature (I guess for the sake of those Dads out there)! Well, it was my first ruffle victim:

I ruffled some "haute" pink knit and got out my glue gun.....and voila! Extra girly diaper bag for my very own girly girl due any day now!

It is pretty pitiful how excited I get about crafty stuff. Most women yearn for Jimmy Choo or Louis Vitton. I yearn for craft stuff. Ha!

New Life

2011-03-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

So, I am in the 5 week stretch until my due date of our baby girl. It is surreal. I'm about to be a mommy of 2! A part of me feels like it still hasn't sunk in that I'm pregnant, the other part of me feels like I've been pregnant forever. It's not like I can forget that I'm pregnant.....my bulging waistline is the topic of every conversation at the office, at church, at the store....everywhere! The weight of it all (physically and emotionally) has me losing sleep. :)

First off, let me say that I know that children are a gift from God. So are spouses, parents, friends, meaningful work and solitude. The "What's to Expect when Expecting" book only glosses over "anxiety of this life event", so I wanted to articulate and capture some of the anxiety I have about becoming a mommy of 2.

I'm looking forward to having our little girl, but I also feel sad for our little man who is so used to the world revolving around him. Since both my husband and I work full time, we completely and thoroughly lavish our little man with attention in the evenings and on the weekends. We spend lots of quality time together doing the things that our son enjoys, purely because it brings us joy to do so. We truly soak him up and spend every ounce of our energy loving him. I'm worried how we will be able to sustain this with two kids.

I know my worry is in vain, because God's miraculous hand will place spaces in our hearts to equally love both kids to the utmost. It is just so hard to imagine how we can do it until we meet our new little one.

I remember similar hesitations and fears while I was pregnant with Little Man. I was so worried how I would be able to "fit" the baby into the marriage, work life, social events, personal time, etc. And looking back over the past 3 years, the addition of Little Man made everything (marriage, work life, etc) even more worthwhile.

It's going to be a new life!

The amazing thing about it all is that Little Man doesn't worry about competing for attention or what having a baby sister will mean. He kissed my tummy last night and proclaimed "I'm a good big brother." And I believe he will be. And she is going to love him. And they will have each other and a bond that will last a lifetime.

Blanket For Baby Lucia

2011-02-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

I finally finished another project! My sweet friend, Almudena, was blessed with a baby girl in November of 2010. Baby Lucia arrived earlier than expected and she is a complete miracle baby, overcoming challenge after challenge. So here's a special blanket for a VERY special little girl!

I bought this fabric in late summer 2010 from Hancocks. I just loved the soft colors and the little owl motif. I bought the softest chenille that I could find as the backing. This blanket is OHHHH...SOOO...SNUGGLY!

I thought I would try my hand at quilting around the motif, but 3 months of FOG got in the way. :) I realized that I need not be an over-achiever and just hurry up and make the blanket before Lucia is a teenager.

I added Lucia's initials and made a ribbon flower brooch that can be put on her baby bag, a hat, a sweater....or whatever!

Welcome to the World, Baby Lucia! You are a special little girl!

Project Complete: Stash-Busting Granny Squares

2011-02-22T06:19:00.000-08:00

It feels so good to cross things off of my To Do list! Theses Granny Squares have been in my crochet basket for a long time! I finally decided what to do with them. I made a small blanket for my very own little bundle of joy that is due in April.

I only had a handful of squares, and I had very little ambition to make any more! Blame it on the baby brain or the brain cells I lost in college, but I couldn't remember how to put the squares together. Luckily, Lucy from Attic24 had some instructions on her site. She is a go-to-girl for all things crochet...even though she lives across the pond. She was even the inspiration for the colorful yarn in my stash! Thanks, Lucy!

This little blanket will be the perfect thing to throw over our baby girl's infant carrier during the cooler spring weather. In a couple of years, she will be able to use it to keep her dolls warm when they nap.

Project OVERDUE: Stash Busting Granny Squares

2011-01-24T20:04:00.000-08:00

Perhaps it's the so-called "Nesting" phase kicking in. Whatever the reason, I'm tired of looking at these granny squares in my crochet basket. It is time to get this stash-busting project from Winter of 2010 completed! When I started making granny-squares over a year ago, I had no plan really....I was just wanting to use the spring colors that I purchased earlier in the year.

Since I'm fairly sure I made up the pattern (like I do on most of my projects) and have since forgotten it, I'm not going to make any more squares. Sure, I could count out the stitches and do a couple of trial squares to find the right dimension. But I don't have the patience for that....I just want to get this project out of my basket....not add to it!

What should I make?

Perhaps I should make a small (really small) baby blanket?

A scarf?

I don't even remember how to put granny squares together! UH OH!

Goodbye 2010

2011-01-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

What a year!
Here's my blessing list from 2010:

My little guy...

blossomed into a sweet boy with an adorable personality!

turned 2....without the "terrible" part of 2!!

potty trained himself!

The Hubby and I...

adjusted the "new normal" of parenthood.

took a fun vacation to Washington DC/VA.

God blessed us with a baby girl on the way!

Together as a family...

got the hang of a good routine...thanks to my hubby!

spent time with our families across Texas

we made many wonderful memories

Just me:

went on a Simple Abundance journey

went on a looong Girl's Trip to New Orleans & Pensacola (Ahhh, R-E-L-A-X-A-T-I-O-N)

had lots of personal and professional growth at work

Learned to sew something beyond a tutu shirt! :)

Hopes and dreams for 2011:

Make incredible memories with my family

go on the Simple Abundance journey AGAIN!

Have a healthy baby girl and enjoy nurturing her!

Continue investing in my career, but also be able spend more time at home

My Big Life Dreams:

Adopt a child.

See the world.

Start my own business.

Most of all, serve God by serving others.

Happy New Year!

Learning to Knit!!

2010-12-23T15:52:00.000-08:00

I feel as if I'm cheating on a 18 year relationship with crochet, but I'm learning to knit. I begged my co-worker and "knitting extraordinaire", Debbie, if she would teach me the basics of knitting. She agreed...and even bought me fancy bamboo knitting needles to learn on!

Aren't these needles beautiful? They feel so good in my hands. I've always used aluminum crochet needles and cheap yarn, so it feels really nice to work with really good materials. Thanks, Debbie!

So far, I've learned to "cast on" and the "knit" stitch. It still feels very awkward; I'm not yet comfortable with where my fingers are supposed to go or how to hold the yarn. I remember feeling that way when I learned to crochet. It will come with practice, which is what I plan on doing during our road trips over the holidays!

Christmas Wreath: Before and After

2010-12-12T12:27:00.000-08:00

Do you see my little helper peaking through the door??

When we first got married, I bought this wreath with good intentions of putting more than a bow on it. Six years later, it still only had a lonely bow. The bow isn't even a pretty. I can't make a bow to save my life.

This wreath needed a makeover!

We retired some our $2.50/dozen Christmas ball ornaments from 2004. We decided that we had gotten our monies worth out of them (on the tree at least!). They were cheap and had lost their luster.

I decided they would be perfect for wreath!

Ta- da!

Teaching him to Give...

2010-12-05T17:06:00.000-08:00

Acts 20:35 (New International Version, ©2010)

³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

It IS better to GIVE than to RECEIVE. However, when you are two years old, this idea seems as delightful as eating a bowl full of broccoli.

My Little Man's daycare class adopted a less fortunate boy, named Dennis, age 2. We are using this opportunity to take the focus off of the list of toys my son wants and focus on giving to another little boy.

Dennis loves Toy Story, just like my Little Man. We got him little Woody and Buzz action figures for his present. As a mommy, I couldn't pass up making Dennis a blankie.

I don't know if Dennis is cold, or hungry, or has a blankie already. I know that my son loves to cuddle under his fleece blankie. It keeps him warm. It helps him feel safe. It is his blankie and he doesn't have to share it with anybody. My prayer is that Dennis feels the warmth, love and peace under his blankie. My Little Man helped me put Dennis' name on it and added a little airplane for an extra special touch.

Merry Christmas, Dennis. Merry Christmas to you, too!

The Fog has Lifted!

2010-11-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

The last three months have been tough! I haven't posted a blog, and I haven't been doing much crafting. But it was all for a good reason!

I am delighted to say that I am 15 weeks pregnant (Yippeee!) and I've spent the last 10 weeks with the most miserable morning sickness! I think the "Fog finally lifted" this past Saturday. I had so much more energy than I've had....and a lot less nausea. This morning sickness took me to my lowest point ever and taught me a lot about myself.

First off, I thought that if I was ever 'really sick' that I would completely lean on God and be steadfast in my faith that I was in His hands. (I always imagined I would become some amazingly faithful woman who would be known for her strength through tough times....like out of some Lifetime movie or something.) Well, I hate to say it but I did a lot of "giving in" to the sickness and feeling sorry for myself. I wasn't very strong....in fact, I let lots of things slip. Things at work, things at home, things with friends... it was getting pretty lonely and dark in my little nausea filled world. Lots of tears...lots of "why me's"...and lots of "I'm never doing this again!"

Well, now that "The Fog" has lifted, I'm seeing a whole different side of life. I'm thankful for everything and everyone that is still here for me....even though I've been a real bother the last 2+ months. My husband was so helpful, and really took control of everything for the last 2 months. It didn't come without a few arguments, but he was amazing and I'm so thankful that he's such a good care-taker. If I were him, I would have been done with my after 2 weeks of it!

I am feeling like my old self. I want to sew. I want to bake. I want to go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Lord knows, I want to EAT! Boy, I'm hungry. I want to blog. I want..... for the first time in months, I want to do anything except lay around and be sick.

So long, Fog. You will not be missed.

Crochet-a-long... Starling Handbag

2010-07-30T19:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a very busy, but very good couple of weeks! Summer is flying by!

One of my favorite crochet bloggers, Futuregirl, recently posted video tutorials on how to make her adorable Starling Handbag. I downloaded the instructions ages ago, but I was too intimidated to even try to begin!

After watching the videos, I decided to give it a shot. What do you think?

This handbag is very popular among Futuregirl followers....check out all the different versions of it in the Futuregirl Flickr Pool! Is mine too girly (as in for a little girl)?

Do you recognize the flower? :)

I think I'll make another handbag, but in Fall colors this time! It is so fun to make!

Happy Summer!

Blooming Towels

2010-07-25T12:13:00.001-07:00

(In)spired by (In)courage and Pleated Poppy's Tea Towels, I whipped some up for my good friend's birthday.

I think I am going to have to make me a set of towels for my kitchen now.

Expectations

2010-07-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

There is a ton of hoop-la going on over at the Ruffles and Stuff that got me thinking and I wanted to put my thoughts into writing....for me, my family, you (whoever you are...but I think it is only Almudena (Huge Grin)) and God.

The short story is Disney, the craft blogger, just up and quit her blog. One day she was refashioning a makeup bag into a head band for her 5,000 blog followers and the next day she up and quit. Her vague sign-off left her followers (including me) very concerned about this person we have never met.

This drastic move on Disney's part made me realize that this blogging stuff can get pretty unhealthy (read: obsessive). So, I thought about my participation in blogging and "why" I do "what" I do.

I decided to start a blog so I could keep track of the craft blogs and digitally scrapbook my piddle-n-putter projects. I check my blog roll almost daily to see what inspiration and creativity is going on at other blogs. Every once in a while, I will make a project that I think it neat enough to share with the world wide web.

While I have temptations to have secret yearnings to be like Dana from Made or even the Nester, I have to keep my expectations of myself and this blog in check. Notice how I said "temptations to have secret yearnings." I don't really believe that it is God's plan for my life to be a blogger and He hasn't pressed it into my heart for real. I mean look at this blog, does it look like I have 'above average talent' at this?? Ha!

So I say all of this to let my intentions be known. I want to keep this hobby of blogging in check. I don't want to become so obsessed with other blogs....or updating this one, that I lose focus of my real priorities in life: God, Family, and Hard Work. I don't want my virtual social life to surpass my real social life. I haven't told a lot of people about this blog, because I don't want to worry about what I say, how often I update, etc. I just want to be me....and geek out with all my crochet and amateur sewing skills. :)

So that's it! No stress over this blog or any other blog. And if it ever gets out of control....I'll be like Disney. I'll up and quit!

Discovering

2010-07-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

I had no idea how much fun it would be to be a Mommy! This summer has been the best summer since we became a family of 3! Our little man just turned two, and he's such an adventurer! Now that we have the nap/snack schedule down pat, we can do so much more with our little man!

And he enjoys being on the go...

We've gone to see the dolphins at the aquarium.

And we've buried our feet at the beach!

He even loves shopping! (Wish that would rub off on his daddy!)

It has been PURE JOY to take him places and discover the world through his eyes! I really feel blessed to have this experience!

Double Duty Burp Clothes

2010-06-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

A co-worker of mine was recently blessed with twin boys. I wanted to welcome Cole and Huxley in my own special way, so I got out the sewing machine. BTW, don't you just love those names?

While I was sewing these personalized burp clothes, I realized I wouldn't know what to do if I had twins! Do mommies of twins use separate burp clothes for each baby? Or is one kid's spit up co-mingled with the other kid's spit up? I don't know the answer to these questions, so I made each of the boys their own burp cloth.

My lovely friend Courtney made a few burp clothes like this for me when I had my little man. They were my favorite burp clothes, because they actually ABSORB spit up, spills and whatever else you need these handy clothes around for!

This burp cloth is made out of a Gerber heavy duty cloth diaper and some cotton fabric. It is ridiculously easy (and affordable) to make. I realized that sewing a straight line is a real challenge for me. Don't look too close at my seams! :)

God's Blessings to you!

Friends & Roses

2010-06-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

I had dinner with one of my favorite friends last night. We hadn't seen each other in several months, so the two hours that we spent together flew by! I love friendships like that. When we get so busy that 2-3 months go by and when you finally get together, you are able to just pick up where you left off. We had lots to talk about because she is expecting...and it looks gorgeous on her!

When I got home, I was wide awake from our delightful conversation. I decided to pick up the crochet hook and do a little late night crafting to relax! I got inspired this Brassy Apple blog post and decided I wanted to learn to make a new flower. See that precious little girl with the zebra headband and the big gorgeous pink flower? I had to learn how to make it!

I love it! They are so easy to make. Now I have to find something to embellish with flowers!! Stay tuned!

Wrapping Up Father's Day

2010-06-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day! We had a terrific day celebrating all things 'Daddy'! We had Daddy's favorite tacos for breakfast and watched golf/baseball all day long! I'm very blessed to have a hubby that is a great partner for me and great father for our son!

When the boys were either napping or watching golf, I decided to sneak into the craft room for a quick project. I have been thinking about making a towel wrap-around to wear when I get out of the shower. I dug out one of my larger (and OLD) bath towels. I found a maroon one that looked like it has seen better days!

Here's what you need for this project:
A Towel (wide enough to wrap around you & long enough to cover your backside)
3/4" Elastic
3" of Velcro
Scrap Fabric that is at least the length of the towel.
Sewing Machine & Normal Sewing Supplies

Instructions:
Wrap the towel around you until it overlaps. Decide how much you like for it to overlap and trim the rest off. (I used pinking sheers to prevent raveling.) Take care not to cut off too much so that you have appropriate coverage below the waist. Lay the towel flat and fold over a 2" hem on the top edge. Do a quick straight-stitch and now have a casing for your elastic!

Measure your Elastic Band around your chest until it overlaps about 1.5"-2". Shimmy the elastic band through the casing of your towel. Sew the casing shut at both ends, securing the elastic.
The scrap fabric is to cover the raw edge of the towel. Simply fold over 1/4" seams in the fabric and press with a iron. Then fold the fabric in half length-wise around the raw edge of the towel. Sew a straight-stitch down the edge as neatly as possible. **Special Note: My sewing machine does not like to sew on thick fabrics like this. It will tug and pull on the fabric and cause it to stretch. That is why my edging has wrinkles."

Affix the velcro tape to the overlapping top edge, and you are done!

Cute ways to embellish this wrap would be to:
Add some trim to the bottom of the towel.
Add your initial in matching fabric
Add shoulder straps using the scrap fabric or the trimming from the towel.

I can't wait to use my new wrap! God's Blessings to you!

Simple Abundance

2010-04-28T17:41:00.000-07:00

Life has been very hectic lately. I just seem to be overwhelmed by everything. I've been struggling to keep it altogether. Wife, Mother, Full Time Employee, Daughter, Friend, etc..... So many roles to play, and I felt like I was failing at most of them! My head has been spinning and I felt like I could get ahead of all that I needed to do.

I went to a used-book sale fundraiser for my husband's school a couple of weekends ago. Hardbacks were only $1, so I loaded up on children's books for my little man. In the Christian inspiration section, I found a beautiful pink book titled Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach. I bought it because it had a pretty cover and a lovely name.

When I got home and started to read it....what a wonderful surprise! This book as been my respite for the last couple of weeks. Every day there is a simple devotional to help you center yourself in the Lord's presence, search your heart and find simplicity in the complex.

After about a week and a half after I had started the book, my husband commented on my peacefulness. He said that he has noticed that I have been more relaxed. I attributed it to the perspective that this book has helped me see! I am able to find the authentic person that God made me to be. My eyes have been opened to find beauty in so many moments throughout my day.

It is a wonderful book! I'm so blessed to have found it! If you would like to find some joy and comfort, I recommend Simple Abundance. Hopefully, I will soon find time to start crafting and updating Southern Sawyer!

It's a Shrug!

2010-02-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

I finished my first Shrug! This was a stash-busting project and I only had about 36 inches of yarn left from this skein when I finished the shrug! This was a very simple project. I made a large rectangle (see previous post) and then slip stitched together about 12 inches on each end to create the sleeves.

I added the scallop to the top for a little extra pizazz. To add some length on the back, I double crocheted a band at the bottom, decreasing the stitches so that it would fit snug to my back.

I can't wait to have warmer weather so I can wear my shrug!

Back to Crochet!

2010-01-20T18:51:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a new project! I've picked up my crochet needle and yarn again! I've decided that the sewing habit is quite expensive, so I'm trying to do projects with materials I have on hand. Crocheting is so therapeutic. I've been very stressed lately, and crocheting really helps!

I'm making something I can wear...and it isn't a scarf! This is the first time I've ever used a size I needle. It is soooooo easy to work with! It also allows you to cover a lot of ground very fast.

T-Shirt Blanket

2010-01-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, we did a little "New Year's" cleaning! We bagged up some clothes and set them aside to donate! My hubby was getting rid of quite a few school themed t-shirts (he's a teacher/coach)....and I wondered who would want t-shirts from schools they didn't go to?

Later that day, I was also really wanting to go to the fabric store to buy some fabric for a project, but I didn't have a project in mind....and I didn't really want to waste the money on a useless project.

SO! I had an idea! I decided to make a t-shirt blanket with the old t-shirts. I simply cut four 19"x19" squares out two of my hubby's tees! Then I sewed them together like a quilt using about a half inch seam. I ran to the fabric store and bought 1 yard of fleece ($6). I embroidered my son's name and appliqued a few footballs to the front. Sewed the fleece to the back...and voila. A very special blankey for my little guy to take to daddy's football games.

Goodbye 2009!

2009-12-31T14:03:00.000-08:00

What a year!
Here's my blessing list from 2009:

My little guy...

said "Goodbye" to plagiocephaly and his helmet!

turned 1!!

learned to walk and talk!

The Hubby and I...

survived our first year as parents

renewed our vows in Vegas in honor of our 5 year anniversary.

turned the big 3-0!

Together as a family...

took a relaxing summer vacation to the Texas Hill Country

spent time with our families across Texas

we made many memories

Just me:

got a golden opportunity to chase my career dreams at work

found passion for crocheting and sewing

found wonderful blogs about crafting

Hopes and dreams for 2010:

Make incredible memories with my family

Learn to sew something beyond a tutu shirt

Be recognized at work for successfully creating an Engagement Program

Finish making my house a home

My Big Life Dreams:

Adopt a child.

See the world.

Start my own business.

Most of all, serve God by serving others.

Happy New Year!

Tutu Shirt

2009-12-22T21:09:00.001-08:00

IMG_6030, originally uploaded by kkersten02.

I have completed my first project on my new sewing machine. Thanks to Tara Norman for sharing the Tutu Shirt pattern with me.

This t-shirt is on it way to one of my best friend's daughters, Ms. Dylan. She is a red head firecracker who is really into tutu's and all things girly right now. I hope she has lots of fun twirling and swirling in this little shirt.

I actually made two of these shirts, but the other shirt is on it's way to my niece for Christmas!

Sew much going on!

2009-12-17T06:23:00.000-08:00

It seems like forever since I updated my blog. My Full Time Job has lived up to that name in the recent months. Very busy working days/nights, holidays and birthdays have kept me busy the last couple of months.

I'm very excited about a new addition to my craft room, though. My wonderful husband surprised me with a new sewing machine that EMBROIDERS! I can't wait to start personalizing everything we own!

I need some projects....so I'm searching on the internet for some inspiration! I'm so excited about the possibilities. Oh and I have secured the Southern Sawyer Etsy Shop URL for my future entrepreneurship adventures.

Merry Christmas!

Sweet Purse for a Little Lady

2009-10-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hi There! I made this sweet little purse for my 2 year old niece.

She is a dainty little lady and this purse is just her size! The pattern was very easy and it takes about 4 hours from start to finish! I'm thinking about making a black and orange bag for my little trick or treater! Instead of the flower, I'm thinking about a orange felt pumpkin. Wouldn't that be cute?

Out my Kitchen Window

2009-10-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love, LOVE, love having a window above my kitchen sink! I wash dishes and gaze into my backyard. While I don't particularly like washing dishes, the window gives me lots of reasons to count my blessings. As I scrub the dishes, I check out all the plants that are blooming, watch the birds hop around and the squirrels playing/chasing each other.

I love looking out the window in the morning, as the sun is coming up. The yard looks so lush and green before the scorching Texas heat wilts all the plants. It is like the plants spend the whole night perking up and congering enough energy to stand up to greet the sun before wilting again under it's heat.

I love looking out the window after a rain shower. This is really a treat, because we've had drought conditions since we've lived in this house. The sidewalk and the flowerbeds look so different when wet. The leaves look beautifully green, glistening and dripping for a fresh shower.

AGT Finale Scarf.... Finally

2009-10-02T11:10:00.001-07:00

IMG_5584, originally uploaded by kkersten02.

So, here is the America's Got Talent Finale scarf finallly! I finally got around to finishing it. Unfortunately, I was using scrap yarn, and I only had enough to finish three rows. So, I pondered what I was going to do with such a long stringy looking scarf. Little man's bear was sitting on a bench looking rather frumpy. So I brightened the bear's day by giving him a sweet Happy Yellow Scarf!

Blog giveaways...

2009-09-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Check out a neat little give-a-way that Hook & Scumble is promoting right now. What a fun way to drive some traffic to your blog!

Big Bugs @ the Botanical Gardens

2009-09-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, we visited our local botanical gardens! There is an traveling exhibit there right now called Big Bugs....and boy oh boy, were those bugs BIG and beautiful!

It was the most relaxing way to spend our Sunday afternoon. The hubby pulled the little man in the red wagon, and I snapped pics to remember how we spent one afternoon in September.

America's Got Talent Scarf

2009-09-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

Last week, while watching the America's Got Talent Finale, I thought "What a waste of time....just sitting there without doing anything productive!"

So I grab the left-over happy Yellow and my size H crochet hook and decided to make a bright scarf! I was hoping to finish the scarf during the "finale" so that I could wear it the next day....but no such luck!

I got about 2 rows completed. Now I'll need to find another reality show finale to watch while I finish it off!

Happy Colors!

2009-09-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Lucy over at Attic 24, I bought several skeins of bright, happy colors. I was so very inspired that I've made several different little projects with them. I've made everything from little flowers to embellish items to a medium size lap blanket. Take a look....do you think any of them are "Etsy" worthy?

This pattern ("The Afghan Squared" from lionbrand.com) was so easy I could crochet with my eyes closed. I watched the little man play, my favorite TV shows and gazed out the window during road trips...and kept on crocheting! Love this pattern! Next time, I'd like to try it with more than 5 colors....perhaps 8 or 9!

I can't decide if the last row on this blanket should be pink or yellow. I love the cheeriness of the yellow, so I may just leave it with yellow. The pink adds a certain drama though...so I may cave and finish it off with pink!

A sweet little case for my camera. I couldn't model the camera in it, since I needed to take the picture. But I found that my Blackberry fit perfectly, too!

A little satchel for my hooks, needles and scissors. It makes me so happy when I pull it out of my yard basket!

Estate Sale Jackpot

2009-09-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

IMG_5472, originally uploaded by kkersten02.

On the way home from the market*, I saw a sign for an estate sale. I had the little man with me, but I thought I could swing in for a few minutes to see if they had anything I couldn't live without.

I quickly made my way through the house with a wiggling 15 month old in my arms. I spotted a clear plastic bag with a few skeins of old yarn, vintage crochet books and 3 new (IN THEIR PACKAGE!!) crochet hooks for $1.50. I thought to myself, "What the heck, 3 hooks for $1.50 is a good deal!" The little man had had enough of the estate sale, so we scurried on our way back to the house.

After opening the bag and throwing away the yarn, I discovered I had hit a crochet hook jackpot! There was a dirty old make-up bag full of crochet hooks! All different sizes and colors! A bonus reward was the Studio 12 Flower Loom from 1971.

Happy Dance!!! So proud of myself!

*I love using the word "market" to reference the grocery store. No one says "I'm running to the market." in Texas. We say "I'm going to the grocery store" or we call the store by name "I'm going to Kroger's." So I choose to use "market." It sounds so much cooler! The Hubby thinks I'm silly!

Can't wait to try these patterns!

2009-09-11T06:39:00.000-07:00

I have been busy crocheting scarves lately. I love to find inspiration on the internet and recently ran across a couple noteworthy projects:

If you haven't seen the DIY Network Show: Uncommon Threads....you need to check it out. You can stream them from their site. I have to try this easy scarf pattern soon! I think the multi-color yarn is gorgeous! Fabulous Twirled Edge Scarf

The talented blogger at "Do You Mind If I Knit" revealed her gorgeous "little squares scarf" today. It seems very easy....although sewing all of those squares together will take some patience.

Can't wait to go yarn shopping!

Lots of Reading going on!

2009-09-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

Did I mention that I love to read? And I mean L.O.V.E. to read. I usually have 2 or 3 books going at once. I don't know why I do this, because I can't multi-task very well and it takes me 2 or 3 times longer to finish them this way. I guess it is a form of attention deficit or something.

My favorite genres are Christian (anything from motivational to fiction) and business leadership. Weird combo, huh?

So here is what is stacked on my bedside table:

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
I rate it a 7 on a scale of 10. It is an interesting look at productivity and coaches you to create a personal organization/efficiency management system. I'll let you know how it goes.

Made to Stick By Chip Heath and Dale Heath
I rate it a 9 on a scale of 10. This book is helping me understand how to present my ideas in a way that gets people's attention and sticks with them. When I'm finished....you should expect this blog to impress. Ha!

Just finished:
Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore.
I rate it a 10 on a scale of 10. Best book I've read in a long time. It is an "in your face" look at how we can get in to slumps in life....and most importantly, how to get out of them. I read it with a Ladies Book Club and had discovered some mind/life changing tidbits. I've recommended this book to several friends, because it is THAT GOOD!

Reading a book is the cheapest vacation I've ever taken!

Howdy!

2009-09-04T08:41:00.001-07:00

Over the last couple of months, I have become ABSOLUTELY addicted to craft/design blogs. I had no idea there was this sub-culture (that's what I'll call it) of crafty, crochet-loving, design-junkies out there. So I HAVE to join in on the madness. I've been watching from the sidelines too long and I'm dying to stand up and say:

My name is KK and I addicted to crafting.

I've always enjoyed paper, yarn, paint, fabric and now, blogs that are related to dedicated to these! So here I will join in the discussion, show-n-tell of my projects and archiving of my favorite things! I hope to connect to others to learn new techniques, share ideas and get inspired to be crafty!