What to post about? What to post about?

So many things to post about, so little time. These little cuties I got for Christmas and have taken them off only to sleep. I love them, love them, love them. (thanks Lewis!) I posted all my christmas photos over on my FB page. Go check it out there. Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas - seemed so short because husband had to work so much. Hoping he has a three day weekend this weekend to enjoy some time together. Ya!

JOEY

Tree Skirt

This is our NEW tree skirt this year. You see, I made the stockings a couple of years ago out of old sweaters and knew that I wanted to make a tree skirt. So I went to one of my favorite stores (ARC thrift store!!!) and purchased an off white blanket last year only to decide I REALLy needed more than one blanket. So, I HAD to make another trip to the thrift store and I actually found five sweaters that were in the off white color scheme and that would be long enough to make into my tree skirt sections.

To construct the skirt 1) cut a large circle from muslin to serve as the backing (and help with construction) 2) fold into fifths to get the measurement for the pie shapes 3) cut out the sweaters (I used the fronts and backs of five different sweaters) 4) lay them in a pleasing pattern and serge one to the other leavingg two disconnected - see the picture? 5) lay the sweater "top" right sides together with the muslin circle and sew down both sides and the entire bottom 6) turn inside out and I encased the small inner circle with bias muslin strip.

I do need to add some ribbons to tie the skirt around the tree but with all of the sewing I've been doing for Christmas I just didn't have time. I figure it will be under the tree and noone will see anyways. Funny thing is . . . I wonder how long it will take me to get the ribbons on??

JOEY

For Sale

I just sent these to Oregon for a craft sale that my mom is participating in this weekend. I hope I sell some things. The wallies would make great wrappings to stick a gift card in for a teacher/friend/swap etc. Or they make great stocking stuffers. I also sent my coffee cozies which make great stocking stuffers too. Some were made of fabric and some I crocheted and put large buttons on. They look like little sweaters for your disposable coffee cups. But you could put a gift card in an empty disposable cup and then put the coffee cozie on the outside and attach a cute gift tag. Wish I had a pic of that. Both of these items sell for $4 each.

I made two of these short aprons. I just fell in love with that fabric. The other apron actually has a row of pockets on the bottom instead of the ruffle. I also sent a matching mother/daughter (size 2-4) apron set made from vintage fabric and linen. Short aprons are $12 and matching set is $30.

If any of it doesn't sell and you are interested - let me know. I expect to receive unsold items in about a week and a half.

Thanks

JOEY

Advent Calendar

I love advent calendars. I use to call them countdown calendars then I figured out that the real name for them was Advent Calendar. I hope to make and collect them and I have a wall picked out at the house to hang them all on.

I just hope to have this one finished BY Christmas. Then i hope to make at least one type of advent calendar a year. I really like them.

I will post a pic of the finished one hopefully by next week.

JOEY

Fall Wreath

Here is the fall wreath inspired by Thrifty Decor Chick. I auditioned it inside the house on a few different walls but liked it best on the front door. That front door is what sold me on this house. It is an 8 foot door (standard doors are 7 feet). The front porch is at an angle and makes it difficult for decorating. Plus I like to decorate very symetrically and the porch is just not even on both sides. Any ways, hope to add more deocrations to the front porch and post soon.

JOEY

Thrifty Finds

These are two of my most recent thrifty finds. The top one I got for $2.50 and the bottom one for 50 cents. Chaching!

I was thinking of putting some small pumpkins in the top one and some qtips or cotton balls in the bottom one and using it for the bathroom. Not very original I know. Any suggestions?

Wait til you see my next post with pics from a wreath i made. Inspired from Thrifty Decor Chick.

Ooh, it's hard to photograph glass.

JOEY

Gotta love these rub-on letters

I've been eyeing these rub-on letters. Seems they are everywhere. But I found some at my local Hobby Lobby store and purchased them this weekend. I think it took longer to open the package then to apply the lettering. Hoping to add some more family pictures to this wall (hint, hint Kari, Jenny and Mom). Oh, this is in the foyer of our home. It is the first thing you see when you walk enter. Most of the frames I purchased either at garage sales or thrift stores and spray painted them black. I especially love the center one. It was one of those frames that has a mat with 50 openings! Seriously? Who has a whole bunch of 2" photos? So I purchased the larger mat 16x20 with an 8x10 opening and I LOVE IT!!! I think I've spent maybe $20 on all of the frames/mats/paint and new lettering. Pretty impressive if I might say so myself.

Happy Apple Orchards

Brooke with her beautiful eyes

Britt and Brett (say that five times fast!)

Lewis - gettin' me some apples

Me and Francesca.

This is how we spent our last sunday morning. About 20 minutes from home is a place called "Happy Apple Orchard". It is so picture perfect there. We actually timed our trip just perfect. The raspberries were ripe (and not all picked through) and there were apples still on the trees.

Brett (the new boyfriend) thought it was going to be lame but actually had a really good time. Pretty impressive to be able to happily entertain 19 year olds.

The people there are so friendly. My daughter thought she lost her billfold there and I called 4 or more times and they just kept looking! (never did find it though).

I made an apple pie (disgusting! - not that sweet flaky crust like my sister-in-law Jennifer makes). I made apple crisp - couldn't gag it down disguised in ice cream (just more tart than sweet) What is wrong with me? I can't cook or bake. I don't like to cook but would like to make things edible. I like to bake but continuesly have issues. I really want to make some apple jelly but I need my mom here to help. I called her today just to tell her that. I miss her. I have about 4 pounds of apples just going to waste. I don't want to destroy them by attempting another recipe. ugh! I guess I just slice them up and serve with some peanut butter and get on with sewing. Why fight it, right?

Tattoos

These hummingbird tattoos are in memory of my husbands late mother, Kathleen. Our whole family plans to get matching tatttoos. Kathleen's "cb" handle was hummingbird. We were at the Colorado State Fair parade when I took this picture of the girls. We were eating the yummiest breakfast burritoes. The weather was beautiful and all 5 of us attended (no picture). Cody has the tattoo on his shoulder. I really, really, really wanted to get a tattoo. I thought the ideas was so honoring but after seeing Brooke get hers . . . Ya, not so sure. She was in a lot of pain. We'll see and I will post a pic if I do.

I got it

I got a piano. It's a Baldwyn upright. It is currently painted white and I don't know if I will keep it white or paint it another color. I originally saw this one and immediately decided I needed a piano. I need some help on deciding what color to paint it. I love the green but one of the walls in my room is painted a pumpkin orange. Maybe I should keep it white. The mouldings in the house are white. Or maybe black. I have accented alot with black (i.e. kitchen table, kitchen hardware, barstools) What do you think?

A bag Give-A-Way

Go check out crafty mama's blog and you too could enter yourself in her giveaway for this adorable little bag. Read about her dreams to open a fabric shop. I'de go there! Sounds perfect.

hinterburg Frame

hinterburg Frame, originally uploaded by joeysews.

You can not believe the incredible deal I got on this frame. It is such a good deal that I am seriously embarrassed to tell you how much (well, little) I paid for it.

And because of some great friends they led me to the frame. It was at a garage sale and two of my friends were there and were talking (they didn't know each other) and decided I should be called because I would need to buy it. And I did! I nearly cried transporting it home. Then after doing some research I discovered it was a Hinterburg frame (Not a Grace like I was told by the seller) AND . . . get this, I ran into another quilting friend at Walmart and she has one and called me later that day and offered to come over the next day to look at it with me. Her and her husband gave me lots of great information and even offered that my husband and I could come check out their set up. I am just amazed at how it all fell together.

I hope to at least quilt the five quilt tops that I have had completed for five plus years.

Thanks friends!

JOEY

Dedication to Lyndsi

One of my best friends' granddaughter passed away May 27th. I haven't been able to post since. I've been having a hard time trying to think about writing about anything fun because I feel so sad about her loss. So I want to dedicate this post to her.

I can't remember how Mary and I met exactly. I've thought about it many times. I think we've always been connected. But I do remember seeing her at one of the Elementary school functions about 12 years ago and talking to her and wondering why she was there. She told me she was there for her granddaughter, LYNDSI, and imagine how shocked both of us were when we realized that my daughter, Brittney and her granddaughter LYNDSI were becoming bestest first grade friends. It was amazing. Those girls were such opposites and just perfect for each other. Brittney was/is so shy and Lyndsi was so outgoing. So outgoing! They were together during school and on the weekends pretty inseperatable too. Lyndsi was at our house or Brittney was over at Lyndsi's house. Thank goodness their first grade teacher "looped" and for second grade they were in the same class. AND . . . third grade - same class! The girls ended up going to different schools for fourth and fifth grades but stayed connected still. In middle school , they were back together and in eighth grade were the closest they had ever been.

The girls played volleyball and basketball together and we saw alot of each other and our families during practices, games and tournaments. Their family was especially there when our family had a medical emergency at one of the basketball games. I had no worries because I knew Brittney had Lyndsi. The girls were crazy together. Lyndsi allowed Brittney to let loose. They wore these goofy black/orange striped socks, shared hairbands and traded shoes for games.

Highschool brought alot of drama. Lyndsi continued with basketball but Brittney did not and so they no longer had that tie with sports. But the girls still shared . . . and boys. Sometimes that was okay and sometimes not. Sometimes a love/hate relationship with the girls. and so that is how the girls ended . . . they were not getting along. But you see, we always thought she would be here. I figured the girls would go to college and Lyndsi's grandma and I would talk about it. I figured they'de get married and we'de talk about it. I figured they'de have kids and we'de talk about it. And I knew eventually the girls would start talking again. I never in my wildest dreams thought we would lose Lyndsi. Everyday we are saddened in some way by it. I know someday we will be happy when we think of her but I just don't know how. We miss her so much and I can't imagine what her grandmother (and mother and father and brother and grandfather) are dealing with.

I am not a writer and i can't express my feelings but just thought I should let you know why I have been gone.

JOEY

Summer is Here

My girls' last day of school will be tomorrow. Bring it on, Summer! I am so ready and so are they. I hope, with help from them, to get more sewing done throughout the week and set up a booth at the local Farmer's market every week.

I am a little concerned about our computer situation. The girls have computers (in which I have been using for blog posting) but they will turn them into the school tomorrow and our home computer is SO slow. I will either 1) have to have the home computer fixed or 2) go to the library a couple of times a week. Both have their pros and cons i.e. the computer fixing will cost $$$$ but I won't have to leave the house to use it and I will have to leave the house to use the library computer BUT it is a brand spankin new library and it is gorgeous!!! So, we'll see.

Actually, if I just sewed instead of being on the computer I could get so much done.

JOEY

Dress and Bloomers

I don't know how you bloggers/sewers do it. I mean I love to sew and blog but I'm just not good at doing both. You see, I made this little dress with adorable little undies and seriously . . . I think it took me JUST as long to 1) find the right hanger 2) find a place to take a pic of the dress 3) adjust the dress so it didn't look like I was drunk when I was sewing 4) find the camera cord to upload the picture and 5) beg the teenagers to let me have a little computer time. I KNOW it took me as long to do all that as it did to make that dress. Wow! Maybe I should stick to just sewing (I'm not even sure anyone reads my blog anyways) :(

I wanted my new little niece to have something that actually fits when they are only 1 week old - and it took like no fabric at all. I wanted to also make a pair of booties but haven't yet but will before I see her on sunday. Guaranteed I won't be posting a picture on the blog - just can't justify the time! I could sew her a whole nother outfit! Sounds good to me.

Charming Handbag

I had wanted to sign up for the BTR (Bend the Rules) Charming Handbag swap but I just missed the deadline. I tried to email to get in but partners were already passed out. BUT then I did get an email asking if I wanted to "angel" a bag. and I did. Sent it yesterday. It was fun to make. My girl said she liked orange and brown - hope it's not too juvenile looking for her.

How cute are those "bunnies"

How cute are those "bunnies", originally uploaded by joeysews.

I can't complain. This is my "work". Ya right! Aren't they just so cute. Those little kids.

Makes it easy to ignore the fact that the landscaping is hidious. Pretty much prairie all around us. and I don't mean pretty prairie, I mean weeded prairie. Good thing I have those "bunnies" to look at.

JOEY

I made that!

I made that beautiful girl and that dress! I've dreamed about making my girls' prom and wedding dresses since they were born. It was a little stressful because we were on a short time frame but she was good about all the fittings (I think there were 6 or more). I was stressed because not only did I want it to fit perfectly but I wanted her to love it. I think I scored on both of those.

Yes, we are saving the dress forever! No, my younger daughter will not be wearing it because. . . I will be making her her own prom dresses.

I can not imagine the wedding dresses - this was pretty darn stressful - but I WILL make them. I've always told the girls they have two choices for wedding dresses 1) I can make theirs or 2) they can wear mine. (Hope one of those works out)

JOEY

I

lounge pants

lounge pants, originally uploaded by joeysews.

I made these lounge pants from Amy Butlers book "In Stitches". I adapted the pattern to omit the side seam so they go together super quick. The owl fabric I had purchased about a year ago so finally got to use it.

The t-shirt was given to me and I added an owl applique from the pants material and made a drawstring casing to give it an empire waist look.

Although I am happy with the pajamas, I am very unhappy with my weight right now. Goodnews is that we did just join a health club so I hope to shed a few (ok, ALOT) of weight.

JOEY

I NEED

a Piano - Really! I saw this post at Portabello Pixie and I am breathless. Anyone have a piano they want to give me? lol - a girl can dream!

JOEY

Charming Handbags

Charming Handbags, originally uploaded by joeysews.

I love this book. It is due back at the library today - ugh! I used the "charming handbag" pattern for these three bags. They will be donated to a Young Life banquet/Auction for this saturday.

So, as many of you know, I didn't follow the rules. I wanted to add the embroidery and had this idea with the circle that I had to try. The first one was my trial and by the third I think I perfected my idea. You would not believe how simple it was to get those circles like that.

The embroidery was not done on my embroidery machine but on my regular sewing machine that has monogramming letters to choose from. I like the way the words look - Hope, Faith, Love.

Check out my flickr for other pictures of the bags/embroidery.

JOEY

Thrifty find

I really needed a candy dish. I found this at the ARC for $1.99. I had put some candy in it but that only lasted a day. I like it although, I doubt it has any real value - I don't think it's expensive or old but I like it anyways.

I got a few others things that evening: 1) children's cd - actually, I had never browsed the cds before because it is a little hard to browse through all of those titles. 2) owl necklace (will definately need to post a picture - although, it is kinda big and therefore I hung it in my sewing room 3) target bag - daughter picked it up at the last minute 99 cents!

The staff was picking through all of the stuff to pull the items with "blue" tags. I was disappointed because I would have liked to have gotten in on some of the 1/2 off blue tags that they were throwing in baskets. And then where do they go? I passed on buying any sheets because I figure I need to work on the stack of 3 or 4 that I have already purchased. I mainly make lounge pants out of them but am going to start on a couple different quilts with all the scraps. Yea!

JOEY

Pleated Beauty

I am so sorry sister! I had all intentions of sending you this bag

but I have fallen in love with it. You will get one . . . but later! It is a pleated beauty bag by Amy Karol from her book Bend-The-Rules Sewing. Oh, my goodness, I just saw that she has a new book coming out August 2009! I already love THIS book. She is so talented and creative. Oh, she's from Oregon. So many talented people there, like my niece Avery. She will be taking sewing lessons from my mom and I am so jealous that I am not the one to be giving her lessons. ugh! But how special for her and grandma!

I went to my sister-in-laws baby shower this weekend and I made her a quilt and bibs and burp clothes - but no, nope, no pictures. Hmmmm. Will have to see if I can get a picture to post. You're all waiting aren't you?

And plans for Spring Break? Haven't even paid attention to what the weather may be like because I will be in my sewing room making a tshirt quilt that should have been done months ago. MONTHS!!! I think I'm aproaching the year marker! People, you have to give me deadlines - I am horrible at "oh, whenever!" That turns into months, ahem, a year!!! (that's bad, really bad!) Ok, but I will have it done next week. Think positive!!!

JOEY

St Patricks Day Apron Swap Sent

This is the apron that I sent to my partner for the St patricks Apron Swap. I made the top panel from a vintage sheet. There are pin tucks at the top,Tiny white binding around the pockets and giant rickrack at the bottom hem. I didn't want the apron to be all "shamrockie" but I am afraid the only things st patricky about it is that it is green. I hope my partner can at least get more wear out of the apron, but should've signed up for a "spring" apron swap for this one. :(

JOEY

Rascal Flatts

Rascal Flatts tickets $180, dinner $50, parking $15, tshirt $30, 20 Year Anniversary with Lewis : Priceless

I love . . .

how you can turn just a bunch of flat pieces of fabric into "things". It is so exciting! I took all this valentines' fabric and made little aprons for little kids (8!) The two on the far right end are for Boys. The frills of the other fabric would have made a few dads mad :( - but they still came out cute. I used a tan ticking fabric with red pin stripes. Cute!

Costumes in February?

Yes, I know it's not Halloween and I'm definately not prepared enough to have my costumes for Halloween already made. I made these costumes for my nephews school auction fundraiser. The princess dress is just fluff and frills and I think any girl would love it. The best part about the postman's costume is the bag - how fun to pretend to deliver letters. Do kids know that email is not the only way to send letters? The scrubs outfit is so cute with the little hat. The doctor's coat can be worn seperate or over the scrubs and the chef's hat and coat is my favorite. I altered a couple of coat/shirt patterns to make the coat look like the "real" chefs coats. I will try to remember and post how well the auction went after I hear about it.

Just like the real scrubs (and hat)

The Dr. is IN

My Fav!

Bad Hair Day (always)

So how do you do it? I wake up excited to sew (or plan to sew, or find some ideas on the internet to sew) and therefore I rarely do my hair. You see my hair isn't even long enough to put in a pony tail but I do it because it takes less time than straightening it and therefore giving me more time to sew.

On Saturday, while putting on my makeup I got a sewing idea and hurried to finish my makeup so I could go write down my sewing idea. Later my daughter was trying to get the big blob of mascara off the side of my face. So how do you do it? How do you manage to take care of your hair and makeup and Sew? I really need to reprioritze here.

JOEY

20th Anniversary

My husband and I are going to see Rascal Flatts in Denver for our 20th Anniversary. I am just so excited. This is my collection of cds and they are all Rascal Flatts because those are the only cds I own.

Please feel free to come by the house and check up on the teenagers while we are gone. We are seriously considering a "babysitter". Who would have thought you need a babysitter for your 15, 17 and 18 year old. Oh yes, we do!

JOEY

Hearts and Kisses Apron Sent

This is the apron that I sent to my Hearts and Kisses apron swap partner, Betty aka Fudgie. I like how it turned out (I hope she does too). The wide apron ties make the apron very comfortable and surprisingly, all of those layers of gathered material didn't take too, too long. The apron she sent me is just amazing. I really, really like it. I wore it all day on Valentine's day until my teenage daughters friends came over (it would have really embarrassed my daughter).

I've been tagged

I have been tagged by Betty AKA Fudgie to show you what is in my purse. How fun! So, I see the rules are 1)show you my bag and its contents 2)tell you how much the bag cost and how I bought the bag 3) tag four people who have a blog.

My bag was originally like $14.99 at Hobby Lobby but . . . I used my 40% off coupon. That's how I roll. I really like the bag. It's big and I like the houndstooth fabric (which my girls always call it saber tooth fabric - haha!) Although this is the bag that I usually carry.

The contents inside are:

receipts, gold C coupons, heart pen (that lights up - ooh, ahh)

sharpie pen (my daughters and I love sharpies), credit card billfold,

notepad (gotta have a notepad at all times), 3 bills that need paid

notecards I received in a swap, knitted Starbucks gift card holder,

checkbook holder (it's embarrasing - I really need to make a new one)

And . . . .

my new business cards

Here are the people I'm tagging

Heather

Patsy

Lorraine

Shawnee

Also, Make sure you link back to this post. I think that's it - can't wait to see what's in your bag too.

Thanks for participating with me.

JOEY

BlogaVersary

I just discovered that my 1 year blogaversary has come and passed. As with me,I am always late with birthdays and anniversaries so what would be different here.

I looked back at my first post. It is a picture of my family. Awww! So much has changed - I think I cut off 10 inches of my hair (and I hate it) One of the girls went blonde and the blonde daughter went brunette AND now are back to both being brunettes. Gotta love Miss Clairol!

The husband is still at his job (and in these times - thank goodness). Seems everyone complains about their jobs but you must be thankful to have a job right now.

The boy started college and quit college and that's ok (neither one of his parents finished college either) So many things are changing for him. He wanted to be out in his own place by his birthday (March 3rd) but looks like that will be a little late too.

I will have a giveaway soon too. So keep reading.
JOEY

Swap Package

Swap Package
Originally uploaded by joeysews

I received my package from the "Hearts and Kisses Apron Swap". It arrived on Tuesday and when I saw the box I had totally forgotten about receiving an apron because I've been working on the one I will send out. Pictures will be posted after my swap partner receives the package.
The apron I received is perfect! It is two layers, with binding and a heart shaped pocket on the front with a giant "J" monogram embroidered on that. She also sent two fat quarts (I'm thinking of making a bag with them) and 4 pieces of JUMBO ric-rak (oh really cute)!
The thing I'm experiencing about joining in these swaps is even though you're given at least a month, I wait till the last week to get mine together. I also joined a St Patricks day swap (see button on the right). I'm gonna have quite a collection of aprons in no time.

JOEY