ELM ST Designs

Someone recently asked me why I call my crafts ELM ST Designs. The reason is that it stands for Ethan & Liam's Mommy...Sidney's Too. I originally was using the name ELM Designs, but then Sidney came along so we changed it to include her as well. Worked out perfect if you ask me. :)

I am so excited, I just ordered custom labels with ELM ST Designs on them. I can't wait to get them, they are going to be so cute sewn into the seams of my dolls! (And of course sewn on everything else I make)

M.I.A.

I have been totally MIA the last few days, I have been terribly busy. I had several hat orders to fill, and I still am not done with all of them. And of course because I have work to do the kids have been extra ornery! So something that should have taken just a couple of days has taken me almost a week. But that's OK, I am just happy to have orders to fill! I love that people like my stuff enough to purchase it!

Who knew?

Growing up I was a bit of a rebel. I listened to punk and alternative music, and dressed a bit "different" I guess you could say. Today I realized with great intensity that those days are long gone. Despite my best attempts I grew up. I don't know when that happened....I must have been too busy to notice. But I got hit with a huge dose of reality this afternoon while driving Liam to preschool. Here we were, radio cranked up, both rocking out and singing along.....when I realized something wasn't right. What the heck?! I was singing along with the Jonas Brothers! I am officially NOT cool anymore! Who knew?? This wasn't supposed to happen. Maybe it's time to restock my car with MY things. I need to regain some level of coolness after all!

Holly

I finished another doll this evening. I had a special order for a dark haired girl. I hope this fills the request. I think she is adorable.

UPDATE: Holly was a huge success. The lady I made her for absolutely loved her! Holly will be going to live with a special little girl on her birthday. :)

New Apron

I finished my "shabby chic" vintage inspired apron last night. I love it. It came out cuter than I expected it to really.

Marnie

I put together one of my dolls today. This is Marnie. She is for sale in my ETSY shop.

PMS...No not that kind

Last night I went to the local quilt shop Ladybug's Quilts for Pizza, Munchies, & Sewing (PMS). OK, so I only did the sewing part since I don't do pizza with cheese. :( But I went and enjoyed adult interaction! A lot of people take that for granted. When you are a stay at home mom of 3 kids, life can sorely be lacking in the adult contact department! I didn't do a whole lot while I was there besides cut out some fabric for my dolls. I talked more than anything! But I was pretty happy that I got 3 dolls cut out and was looking forward to sewing them today. Too bad that isn't going to happen. Somehow between the time I packed up my stuff and drove home I lost my dolls! How does that happen? I know I put them in my bag, but when I got home they were not to be found. I figured I dropped them or they fell out in my car, but I can't find them anywhere. Man, I must have lost more of my mind than I thought! It's too bad that I can't find them, they were going to be extra cute. I used some REALLY cute fabrics, some of which I only had enough for the pieces I lost. Oh-well, back to square one!

UPDATE: My wonderful husband found my dolls! I am OH SO HAPPY! They had fallen between my passenger seat and car door. YIPPEE!

Here ya go Lue-Anne.....

Lue-Anne asked to see a photo of my sewing cabinet so here it is. It is very 70's, it was my mother in-laws. But I love it. I do wish I had a larger area for my sewing stuff, but this works. I have grand plans for a craft room when the kids are all grown up, but for now I'll take the little area of my bedroom where I can sew and stay cozy in front of the fireplace.

Labels

Sid was Liam's latest victim. He has been sticking these germ stickers on everything and everyone in the house. Poor Sid got it while finishing her breakfast this morning.
She didn't seem to mind, and even looks happy about being labeled icky. But something tells me, when she is old enough to see these photos she just might kick Liam's booty! Eww, Liam should have stuck the Ick sticker on the highchair. Sid got breakfast all over the seat cover!

New stuff

Here's what I have been working on the last few days. I am very proud of this purse. I did not have a pattern to follow so I made it up as I went. I am really happy with how it turned out.

It's reversible too!

I also made this canvas tote. I made it to transport my sewing machine when I go out to sew with friends. All I need is a piece of plexi to put in the bottom to make it even sturdier. I LOVE the fabrics I used.

Happy 9 Months Sid!

OK so as usual I am posting after midnight which technically makes it the 14th. BUT I am still working on the 13th, LOL. SO...HAPPY 9 month birthday Sidney! Today she is 9 months old. I can't believe it. I say this about all of my kids but I swear it seems like I just had her. I am so thankful for my sweet little pixie. She truly is a blessing to our family.



We took advantage of the beautiful weather today and went for a walk to the park. Where Sid sat in a swing for the first time. She LOVED it. We have a doorway jumper at home that she likes and tries to swing in. She spent the whole hour and a half we were at the park in the swing!

How cute is she?!

She is learning to walk now too. She loves her walker, the same one both her big brothers used as well. Here she is showing her skills.

Bibliophile? Eww sounds gross.......

After all my Sunday chores were done I went out to play. Jennifer and I went to JoAnn and got lots of stuff on sale. I finally picked out some canvas fabrics to make a tote for my sewing machine. I also got some yummy floral fabrics to make a shabby chic style quilt. But of course my favorite things I got today are BOOKS! I love books. All books. Even books that I never plan to read! You could say I am a bit of a bibliophile. (Ok, get your mind outta the gutter, no it's not THAT! Click the link and learn something!) But in this case, these are books that will get lots of use. I got Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones, Crafts For Baby, and Stuffed A Gathering of Softies. I have projects to last the whole year! Oh so many ideas and not enough hours in a day. Well maybe if I gave the kids away I would have enough hours...oh wait, can't give the kids away. I guess I'll have lots of late nights sewing after bedtime. :)

Who doesn't love Yukon Cornelius?

I was asked to make a red beanie like Yukon Cornelius'. You know, the lumberjack man from Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer. Here is Richard sporting his Yukon beanie. Looks good!

Going...Going...Gone!

Sid couldn't be bothered to finish her dinner this evening!

Amoebas...Did she say Amoebas?

Anyone who knows me well will agree that I worry too much. And that I can be a bit of a hypochondriac. The simplest of ailments can quickly turn into a brain aneurysm or blood clots headed straight for my heart to cause sudden death for me. Now, freaking out as I do, I still insist on watching medical shows. Dr. G Medical Examiner is definitely not a show I should watch! As she explains why these people have died I sit thinking about how whatever killed them must be whats wrong with me. So I have been good and have not watched that show for awhile. Yesterday I was watching something more suited for me, Rachel Ray. Well guess who was on ....Dr. G. She was talking about simple ways not to die, things she has learned over the years being a medical examiner. One way was to use a nose plug when swimming in lakes. Why, you might ask. Well of course, to keep the amoebas from going up your nose to your brain where they will kill you of course! Huh? Apparently amoebas like warm water . When the weather is nice and the lakes heat up the amoebas get stirred up. Great, one more thing to worry about. Kids get your goggles, we're going swimming......in the bathtub! Wait, hold up! Isn't the bathtub the number one spot where most household accidents occur? Nevermind, kids...get the bubble wrap!

My whole day of sewing on Sunday didn't exactly happen as planned. Although my chores were all done and my boys were being behaved. WAIT, hold up....did I just say MY boys were being behaved? Wow, that's not a statement often heard coming from me! Anyhow, yea they were being good and I thought I would sit down to sew. Sid wasn't going to allow this to happen though. She decided that someone had to be rotten, may as well be her. So I spent most of my day holding her and not sewing. Oh-well. After the kids went to bed I was able to get at least one thing finished. This "Taggie" is up for sale at my ETSY site.

I did however get a small chance to sew yesterday. Winter break is over so Ethan started back with his studies. Liam doesn't start until Wednesday, but he was busy playing video games. And Sid decided to watch Strawberry Shortcake. So I had about an hour to sew. I was able to sew some of these yummy smelling sachets. They smell like brandied apples!

Apronista Giveaway

Check out this awesome giveaway at the Apronista! http://apronista.blogspot.com/2009/01/january-giveaway-hip-hostess.html
Who doesn't love a beautiful apron?

Sweetness

Need I say more?

Just a few things

I am obsessed with making these sachets. It's a great way to use up scraps and they smell so yummy! I stuffed them with rice and dried lavender.






















Here's a "taggie" I made for my friends baby. These are perfect for babies that love toy tags. Sid has one and she loves playing with the ribbons. And its great to hook to her car seat or stroller with links, she can't throw it overboard.

I didn't have much time to sew the past couple of days so there isn't much to post. I have been pretty busy with "Mom" stuff. Chores aren't much fun, We did our monthly grocery shopping this morning. That takes us at least two hours and two carts, then a couple hours to put it all away, UGH. And I took down the Christmas tree & decorations. Then I cleaned the house. I have been busy all day! Which means, now that my yucky chores are done I get to play tomorrow, yippee. Hmm....what to sew first?!

Finally done

I finally put Ethan's rag quilt together. He's been waiting for it for over 2 years, poor kid. My excuse? I had terrible relationship with my sewing machine. I broke up with that one, traded it in for a much better model! I hated sewing for so long, I thought it was a terrible hobby and couldn't figure out why people enjoyed it. Then my friend pointed out that I just needed a new machine. I am so glad she did! As you can see, I really enjoy it now. So, Ethan is a happy kid now that he finally has the blanket he has been bugging me to finish for so long.

Laundry with Dad

Liam and Sidney decided to help Darren with the laundry. How cute are they?! I'm a lucky girl!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve. I had a quiet night at home with my family. We did our traditional PJ'S and TV. The kids all stayed up, well sort of. Liam conked out around 11:30, but Ethan and Sid were up. Darren even stayed up! In the 9 years we have been together he has fallen asleep just about every year! Everyone slept in this morning, which was nice. We had a mellow day too. I got to sew for awhile, the kids all kept themselves busy. Sid hung out with me for a bit in her ladybug jumper and watched me sew. She's gonna learn early. I worked on a gift for my sister....Shannon, if you're reading this, close your eyes! It's going in the mail tomorrow.

This is Sally.

I also made her a little something else....ya know, for stress relief!