Welcome Fall?

I know around the country a lot of people aren't feeling fall. But it is here in Wisconsin, and we have a cold chill coming along. This weekend highs of 40-50s I don't know about you but that is too cold for me. I was enjoying the 60's.

At least I have a reason to bust out the blankets around here, so all isn't bad. I am just bummed that the heat may have to be turned on already! Ugh. Goodbye fall hello winter? I sure hope not!!!

Remember?

Remember when I posted up pictures of my Hoop Girl Collection?

Well these lovely ladies have been excepted into Paper n Stitch gallery exhibit for the next month (goes live today)! Super excited eh? In lou of that I have set up my Art Fire account and finally got my pretty little butt in gear! Yay, stop by and visit I would love to see you all!

More will be added to both Paper n Stitch and ArtFire as time goes on so keep on checking back for new items!

Somethings Wrong

Image found here

I have been sewing for almost 5 years. Normally when I purchase fabric it goes like this, if it is online I can take hours wading through beautiful pictures, putting items in and out of my cart finding just the right fabrics that I cant live without. I press purchase and wait on pins and needles till I get my fabric in the mail. I cant wait to tear it open and once it is all in front of me I stare at the fabric. Look at each piece like I am examining a fine piece of art work. I have been know to pet it. And I have heard of people wanting to lick their fabric it looks so good or just roll around in it, these all are rumors and I would NEVER take part in such silly activities (*cough yes I would/have *cough)

Why am I sharing this? Well yesterday I got some fabric in the mail. The first in a very long time since I am on a budget and well as people who are waiting for purses from me (you know who you are! SORRY!) I haven't been sewing AT ALL, I lost the mojo and I thought a little fabric retail would help bring it back. Only problem.... I let the package sit after I picked it up from the mailbox and once I finally did open it up late that night, I look through them briefly and felt no rush, no how did I ever live before you such fabric came into my life, no need to protect it to hungry fabric eating scissors. None of that.

I am bummed, I think I have lost my sewing mojo forever and fabric is no longer my vice. At least my husband will be happy! Me? I am kinda depressed about it!

Hoop Girls

So this summer I learned all type of new art techniques. My above and beyond favorites are the two I used to make these "hoop girls". Image transfers and photo tinting.



Have you ever tried these techniques? Would you like a tutorial? I am no way an expert but I am getting the hang of it!

So with fall officially here I need to figure out what my goals are for this season. I am thinking it will be more mixed media techniques. I am also trying drawing and painting on my own still. And just like any type of skill practice lots of practice. Whats most amazing to me is that while there are natural born artists that literally have a paint brush in their hand at birth most of the artist out there, lots of practice and honing in on their skills and tweaking where needed. So Suzi Blu is right... You ARE an artist! Love it! What about you? Any creative goals before the end of the year? Do share!

Apples by the bunches

This weekend BFF and I took our kids to an apple farm. Ubber fun. Plus I got to go to a cheese factory... mmm cheese. Leila had a great time picking out apples and like normal no trip to the apple farm is complete without a caramel apple. They were huge, gooey and covered in all types of different candy.

Leila is going through that phase of.... I will run each time you pull out the camera or make a crabby/silly face. Photographer mommas please tell me this ends quickly? All I have to show of Leila's fourth year of life is goofy faces and blurry photos. Which I suppose the first is fitting since she is such a goof ball.

My other dilemma..... so many apples! I plan to make some applesauce in the crock pot and we have been eating a TON of apples but please share.... what is your favorite apple recipe?!?!?!?

A new tradition

Taken on my phone not too shabby!

We live in a tiny town that has an amazing bakery. It is a hole in the wall type of place with regulars there every morning. Everyone knows everyone and talks about what is going on around town. I love it there. So this morning Leila and I sat down and had a morning treat and shared a carton of milk. It was a perfect Friday. And to my delight I wasnt the only parent having some bonding time with their child before the business of the day really began. We may have a new tradition.

Soup Time!

Fall is my favorite season (sorry summer, spring and winter). Apples, pumpkins, chilly mornings, gorgeous days. Love it! It also means that I can justify eating soups ALL the time. So in my challenge to myself to cook things from scratch rather than buying processed food I am making all of my soups on my own as well. With that also comes with creativity as we only go grocerry shopping once a week and while I plan my meals out for the most part when lovely hubby steals my indgredents for something he wants to cook (he is the cook in our relationship, he makes everything just by his sense and taste, me I am a follow a recipe card to a tee, though I am starting to be a little more adventourus) in comes plan B and work with what you have. And with that I present to you....
Zucchini soup, now it doesn't look all that appetizing, it looks a little like slop I admit, but the taste? Oh boy it is good! I went on the basis of this recipe and changed a few things as I didn't have dill and I used a little bit more chicken stock because I had it! Plus you can eat it cold or hot, me I prefer hot but yummy either way, promise!

Broken Record

As a momma, I feel like I need recording of the five most common things I say on a daily basis. Those five things would be:

be nice to your brother!
markers are for paper, not table/wall/couch/skin etc.
you are being such a sassy pants!
do you need to go potty?
who's driving this car?

So fess up mommas/daddys I know I am not the only one... what is on your broken record?
The one phrase though I will always say over and over again (with a smile on my face)...
I love you.
And boy oh boy do I love those two, as crazy as they make me!

I vow

I havent been great about taking pictures of the kids lately. Even worse about that is we just got a new digital SLR and I have barely touched it and I have wanted one for so long! So I vow today and forever more, pictures LOTS more pictures. Family and friends... consider yourself warned!

Seriously?

All images found on weheartit.com

So I went to a craft store yesterday and just about fell over. Christmas everywhere. At first I was like, I suppose it is October, Halloween is right around the corner and then I thought WAIT A MINUTE... It's September, the BEGINNING of September. Not so cool! I know the economy is bad, I know retail wants us to think about nothing but the holidays, but we are just ending a hot sticky humid summer around here and I would really love to enjoy and not rush my favorite season of the year fall! I am planning to decorate big time this fall and enjoy the yummy stuff that is fall, but the big retail monsters have wiggled their way into my mind and I am thinking about Christmas trees, lots of snow and my growing gift list. Too bad for them, everything I give this year will either be handmade by me or an artist/crafter. What about you, have you been witness to the holiday bug already? Does it drive you nuts too??!?!?

Hi my name is....

Stefanie and I have been super crabby lately. I am blaming it completely on the hormones though I know that cant all be true. I woke up thankful to have the long weekend over but as I sit here grumbling I yelled at myself to snap out of it and think about all the things you did this weekend.

Leila was an amazing helper and helped me make cherry scones and fresh whipped cream (so yummy!)

There was lots of cuddle and movie time

I got to draw a fair amount of the weekend

Park time!

yummy ice cream

a laid back stroll through the mall

Listening to Leila play make believe

Kenson bit by bit taking more and more small steps (yep 19 months and still not walking, stubborn little man!)

We did a fair amount even if I felt like we could have done a lot more, I dont know why I want to be busy all the time, I hate it when we are busy all the time. And now I hate it when we arent busy. My poor husband, he cant win no matter how our weekends go. I have a feeling there will be a lot more postings about gratitude and things I am thankful for. It is the only way I can think to snap out of my funk that I have been in for so long!

Mean Mommy

I have been that momma, the one who says no all the time, is yelling, and has no patience lately. I hate being that momma. I had just told a friend last week that fours seem to get better by the day and then this week happened. I chop it up to: new classroom, teacher, schedule, and stress in general on momma's side. I am keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed this weekend we go back to the easy breezy fours that we have had most of this summer! Wish us luck and for my US friends, enjoy the long labor day weekend!!

I try but I sometimes fail

For my birthday Ken got me Jamie's book and for the first time in my life I read a cookbook from beginning to end. It got me so excited about cooking. I know how to make a few dishes but I had been slacking on the home cooked meals lately. Enter in a big change and a promise to myself and my kids. Home cooked meals as much as possible. Each week I pick 3-4 recipes get my shopping list and pump myself up for a week of cooking. Two weeks in and it has been going really well. Really well until last night, I lost the mojo and the kids had mac and cheese. And it wasnt from scratch it was the bright orange powdered stuff and after I made that for the kids I made myself toast with peanut butter and honey. I was disappointed but also so tired and wiped that I couldnt even look at the kitchen.

Tonight I am happy to report I made mac and cheese again but instead of the processed stuff it was made from scratch with cauliflower in it that the kids ate right up. I cant say enough good things about Jamie Oliver and his style of cookbooks. Buy it I have tried a different recipe each night and I havent had one bad thing yet and I have learned SO much about cooking! Yay progress!!!