Going away gifts... Part 1

We moved recently... Matt took a job transfer back to California. So we left my parents and a lot of very, very close friends back in Jacksonville. Lots of ugly tears were cried. We are beyond excited to move back to the west coast and for opportunities we have here, but we are equally or more sad to leave this bunch of people that we love so much. 

One of our friends demanded a going away gift. No gift=no leaving. LOL. She took the news especially hard..... So, since she is a die hard Hello Kitty lover, and she and her husband are both Gators, I thought it appropriate to mix the two and appliqué this graphic that I found online onto a quilt. 

The back is a super soft double sided minky (not that that matters since it sandwiched) but it does make it super fluffy. Its almost a twin size. 

It took me a bit to find a photo of Thaoly that she or her husband wouldn't kill me for posting. She is well known for posting/taking possibly embarrassing, but aways awesomely funny photos. She also taught Bella how to pout and eat Oreos at inappropriate times; scheduled girls shopping trips when she hates to actually shop for clothing, and filled Bella's vocabulary with things like 'California sucks'.  lol. They were one of the first people we had to our house after we moved to Jacksonville 9 years ago and are super amazing people. 

We miss them so much! Hopefully we will get them to come out and visit soon...

I have a couple more going away gifts I will try to get them up soon- do you all make things for people when you leave? 

Five Year Blog-A-Thon!

It is hard for me to believe but we have been blogging for five whole years! Way back when I worked at the most wonderful shop with the most amazing people, I was talked into starting a blog. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I in turn talked Jessica into blogging and when You Know Who and I moved back to the states, Jessica and I combined blogs.

Something people may not know, I would never have started working at the craft shop if Jessica hadn't talked me into taking a class. Oh the things I would have missed!

So to celebrate this monumental event several of those awesome people and us are doing a blog-a-thon give away! Please visit each of the blogs and leave a comment for the chance at some really awesome things. 

Jessica and I are offering a $30 certificate to be used in our shop. All you have to do is go over to the shop, look around, come back to this post and tell us what you might choose if you win.

 Here are the links to everyone else's giveaways! Just click on the pictures!

 Comments will  close at 10pm on the 16th of March and winners will be announced on the 17th of March.

Thanks for playing along!

The Eagles (football)

A friend requested an Eagles growth chart.... everyone knows I am totally not a sports team person - but it's always fun to try something different!

 I really enjoyed the process... though it was time consuming... the design at least was a no brainer. I tried to make it look as close as I could to the pictures of their stadium that I found online.

 It's painted with acrylic on primed canvas and then I sealed it with a Matte Finish.

 Lots of fun to do... unfortunately I had to buy the canvas in bulk so now to figure out what to do with the remaining 4+ yards of canvas... I listed some of it in the shop... but I am sure you'll be seeing a lot more projects with it in the near future

 hopefully the new parents will enjoy it

And so the little one will be ready to dress for the games this next season a onesie was made

This was done using the usual freezer paper method-- I cut multiple layers of paper to print the different colors-- fun on a small item ...could drive you crazy though 

Weekends

So I am a little behind... just thought I would show you Micah's first trip to the pool. There isn't much this boy dislike's doing. He was more then happy to swim around in his floaty- the sunscreen keeps his hair up in a  little mow-hawk 

Total lady killer

For mothers day we skipped the restaurants and had a few couples over whose parents aren't local

8 adults can wear a baby out...

Don't worry we didn't leave him there!

Wedding Signature Picture

Remember this wedding invite? Well they didn't have time to use my graphic for the invites but they did end up using it at the wedding. We had it printed onto an 18"x 24" canvas 

Which they had all of the guests sign 

 The ADORABLE couple (his Dad did the ceremony)

 The wedding turned out sooo beautiful ! It was a backyard wedding, the house sits on a lake in a golf course community and it was so nice- the little lake even had an alligator that swam around- AWESOME! The bride had 1000 cranes strung up.

 And the beautiful cake (via Cinotti's Bakery)

 And the car ... because it just makes me laugh!

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day! Just wanted to show you the one fun decoration I was able to finish in time to use this fall....

 Please excuse the two holes in my wall. This is the part about my house being a work in progress and me going ahead and showing you. There was an intercom. There was a ventilation hood. They were beyond non functional and U.G.L.Y. The electrical thingys need help so until we get to that point in our reno, they remain open. 

 Back to my pretty garland. This is from a tutorial over at ParrishPlatz. I've wanted to make one for awhile and decided now was the time. Thanks for the idea and doing the cool leaf templates Jennifer! These were made with some wonderful 100% wool felt I bought when I was in Germany. I machine sewed my layers together.

 I think this one is my favorite.

Yes, it's still warm enough for the beach.

I Knitted My Bit

Knitting has always intrigued and yet eluded me. I've tried hard to understand it but until my sister came and showed me I just wasn't getting it. Poor Sherie, I don't know how many times she asked if I was really sure I wanted to knit. I got to between round 9 - 13 six times and tore it out. I know I will never be a knitter but at least I know can say I have knitted. 

This yarn is gorgeous. Thank you Mary for giving me such loveliness. I've been saving it for something special. The pattern is called Candle Flame Cowl from here. 

 My real goal is to be able to make wash cloths. This pattern is from Purl Bee . Sherie has made a couple of these for me and I want more. I keep thinking I should be able to make them myself instead of bugging her. The knitting needles below were made by a friend. Yes Joan, I still love purple! 

Gratuitous grandchild shot. I love this boy.

Our Back Yard

If you're standing in the center of our yard and turn in a circle,  this is what you'll see.

Back right corner of yard

Left Back corner of yard

Patio

Back of the house.

 In front of the chimney is a pump system for our well. It's not very attractive but it sure will help when I need water!

So yes, the yard is big but it's not as big as it looks.... There is so much I'd like to do. When I first saw the photos with the hammock it was pretty much a done deal. Have I told you I love hammocks?? My son has already replaced this with a new one. I also look forward to seeing if I still have a green thumb. Gardening is something I used to love. Then there's the terrace or patio (depending on where you've lived for the past few years.....) I'm picturing big dinners with friends and family. 

Give me a call when you're in town! 

I live for weekends!

We are all sorts of busy around here filling up our weekends with fun get-togethers. It was overcast this weekend but last weekend we hit the beach. We went South to a beach Beau 'found' and enjoyed an afternoon of sun and water... if it hadn't gotten cold they wouldn't have been able to make me leave!
Brinkley was mostly all I took pictures of. He isn't really sure about the whole beach thing. Over all I think he likes it but...
the water kind of freaks him out. It took us a good ten minutes to coax him into sitting and it didn't last long.

He does like rolling in the sand though.

and getting the only spot in the shade.

he didn't seem a all upset about being half buried... eventually I am sure he will love it all.

Friday night we went to the opening game of Arena football. We had awesome seats and it was very entertaining we still aren't sure the ref's actually understood the game... but watching huge guys slam each other into the walls was hysterical...especially since we were close enought to see the facial expressions...

it was a total blow out. Jacksonville stomped Orlando everyone got free Arby's sandwiches which made the guys really happy.

No all of us but the closest I have to a group shot... This is just to get Beau back for the terrible photo he posted of me on facebook!

And this is just to show you that Uber and I are far too much alike... I didn't know they had taken this picture!

Last but most certainly not least. The 'dancers' I'm still not sure they knew where they were because the only way I can describer what they were doing was erotic dancing... no really they spent a good ten minutes on the field going through rather interesting poses... you wish I was kidding!

Alright I need to go do some crafting... if I can remember what that is!