Podcast Help Needed!

Hi all! Mom and Dad bought me an IPOD

for my birthday a few months back and I'm finally adding a few things aside from what hubby had on his IPOD. I'd like to subscribe to some crafty Podcasts, but need some recommendations. TIA! : )Kris

Baby Carrier Sale!

Just a quick note to tell you all about a great sale I just found on my all-time favorite baby carrier, the Beco Butterfly: this isn't a picture of me :)
I'm a big fan of baby wearing and needed something super sturdy that I could carry Ben in - in the front AND the back. This one fits the bill! I've had mine (in Amy Butler's Spinach Imperial Fans fabric) for a few months now and use it almost daily. It's incredibly comfortable, and most importantly, Ben likes it :)

Euphoria Baby is having a sale on their Beco's until 8/31 - check 'em out!

Hope you all have a fun and safe holiday weekend! :) Kris

Hello my crafty friends! Hope you're outside a bunch trying to squeeze out the last bits of summer like we are! I finally broke down and got some Crocs and I have to say that I *love* them. They are abnoxiously pink and I think that's what I love most!

Truth be told, we haven't had much time out on the boat in the past month - NH has seen it's share of almost-daily storms and the lakes are up ~ 15 inches! They are saying that a wet fall and winter are to follow... AGH!!!!! I'm trying to stay positive :)

Anyways, I don't have any new creations to share - hopefully with the fall weather will come earlier bed times and later rise times for the kiddos... which naturally translates to more time for mommy fun at night.

I did pick up a few things though to read sometime soon (don't you hate how amazon.com sucks you in with that free shipping over $25 deal?! Get's me every time!!)


The top book is something that I've been wanting for a while, and as it was one of the oldest items on my "Wish List", I figured it was time. I want to make Sydney some knit clothes for the fall and have been a bit apprehensive - hopefully this book will help.

Want your own FREE copy? Stacy and I are giving away a copy at the start of Sept to one lucky contestant in our SKIRT SEW-ALONG! The sew-along ends on August 31, so you still have time!!!

The second book (a fabulous baby gift making book by Amy Butler) is chock full of fun gift ideas that span from beginner to advanced sewing levels. I doubt that I'll ever attempt to make a whole crib set, but I really do like the stuffies, cloth blocks and baby clothes. I definitely recommend checking this one out - who doesn't love handmade baby goodies?

Also broke down and picked up some of Heather Bailey's *GORGEOUS* Pop Garden fabric. I really wish I had the time to whip up a quilt with this stuff - it would be gorgeous! I'm not really sure what I'll do with it all - definitely will make some fun wet bags with many of the prints. Maybe a skirt for Sydney? (I'd actually love a skirt for me in the diagonal fabric which is the second one from the left...). And the jelly bean dots? Too stinkin' cute!


That's about it - my days are mostly filled with chasing the little ones around, and defending my finished goods from the littlest one :) He's fast!

Good night! :) Kris

Happy August!

Hi folks! Long time no blogging. Sorry! These past 2 weeks have been crazy, but fun. Hubby celebrated the big 4-0 last week and it's been what seems like party after party! When the actual day came, I think he was pretty much over it :)

Party #1 was a surprise party (CLAMBAKE!) down in MA that I organized with some old friend's of Frank's. Had a great time, despite the 98 degree day - thankfully they had a pool!

(picture courtesy of Sue)

Party #2 was the next day - hosted by our NH friends. The best part of this all was that he really didn't have a clue! I think it'll rank up there as one as his favorite birthdays.... it better! After that w/e of partying, my mom and sister-in-law (with her kids) came to visit for a few days, then we headed down to the Jersey shore for a bit to visit with my high school friends. Phew.... Busy!

I've also been working a bit around the house when I can - it's REALLY hard these days to get anything done when Ben is awake - he's almost 10 months old and a maniac. The non-stop kind of maniac that I've heard boys can be. Keeps me on my toes!

Here's my older helper (I repainted the front door and the door sides from dark green to black - muuuuuuch better).

Have also been working on Syd and Ben's room a little to help define their areas. They share the room - Syd in a bed and Ben in a crib. So far, so good.



I saw the idea for the bird mural in the book LAST- MINUTE PATCHWORK and QUILTED GIFTS (if you haven't checked it out, you really should - it's fantastic). The pattern for the birds calls for it to be hand appliqued. Okay - I'm a mom with 2 little kids and I don't have enough time to get my hair cut let alone applique. So, I just used double-sided fusible webbing and top-stitched it. I had an old corkboard and remnant fleece that I used to mount it. Pretty easy project. I think I will go back and make the birds all one color though... I think the silhouette effect would look better. Hindsight...

Speaking of birds, check these cuties out!!!


My crafty sister-in-law Sue made these (she made them for Ben's baptism in June - what a fantastic gift!) and I'm in love . I want them all over the house. Seriously.
If you'd like to make them, CLICK HERE for the tutorial by SPOOL SEWING. Beware - I've heard they are pretty addictive!

Have you tried Sandi Henderson's adorable Mariposa Applique pattern (the PDF link can be found at her right side-bar)? I finally did (a quick and easy birthday gift) and really enjoyed it - so much that I cut out 10 more sets to make for all of my little girl friends out there. Just need to find the time to make them all...


Hmm... What else... AH! I got a new toy! A snap setter! Been eyeing one of those bad boys for a while, and after having enough customer requests for things that would be perfect with snaps, I decided to bite the bullet and get one. So happy that I did! I now add snaps to my wet bag straps (so you can hang them off the stroller, etc), and was able to make a double wet-bag. Pretty cool. Also looking to make a new wet bag / changing pad combo.... stay tuned!


More news on the way - don't want to bore you all too much :) Stacy and I did decide to extend the skirt-sew along to the end of August (8/31), so if you wanted to participate, you still can! Check out the entries so far - there's some cute ones!

Before I go... I did find this funny ad in the paper the other day - if only my nails were a serious daily concern...