This and that and using what's on hand

Hello there!

Still haven't taken pictures of finished projects - but I have managed to whip up some "new" projects since we've been home.

Well, one was more of an improvement I'd say.  

Nursing bras.  

Not usually the prettiest things out there and the ones that are pretty are also pretty expensive.  I had a plain ole' white one that I decided to dress up a little bit.  Some lace trim and ribbon (all from my stash) and hello new bra!  (sorry I don't have a picture, but you get the idea, right?)

And some nursing pads.  I have been using disposables which I am not too fond of, so I decided to go ahead and make some reusable ones.  (I also considered just buying some from the lovely and talented vendors on Etsy, but in the end I just didn't want to wait)  I mostly followed this tutorial by I Sew, Do You? (thank you Pinterest!), but my layers were a little different.

Flannel, fleece, diaper, flannel.

All from things I had around the house - 

flannel from the quilt I finished in New Orleans, 

diapers from the cloth diaper pile 

and fleece from some pajama's Big Brother has outgrown.

I'm not one to buy a whole lot of 'new' or 'trendy' craft stuff/fabric/yarn anyway, but it feels really good to make do with what is on hand.  I've been thinking about that a bit (when I have coherent, non-sleep-deprived thoughts...) after listening to Frances in her Rambly Rose podcast a few weeks back, reading Julie's Use What You Have post, and finding, also via Pinterest, this post by Sandra's Cherry Heart blog (what really got me, was her little tag at the end of the post "crafting for free in June").

Speaking of making do, I created a new board in Pinterest called "Make Do and Mend" where I'm attempting to gather what I can on all things 'mending'.  Bits of information, history, neat ideas/ways to mend, styles of mending, etc.  So if you're on Pinterest (or not) and you happen to find anything about mending and feel so inclined - please send it my way!

All this was started by a hole in the heel of a pair of my husband's wool socks - and then I got a book - and then...but I'll save the rest for another post.

Blessings friends,

Daphne

A sleeping baby at my side...

Well, I took some pictures of WIPs and projects I've finished since we moved, but they are pretty terrible.  Need to find a new 'picture spot' in this house.

Here are some details anyhow...

The house is quiet - everyone (including the dog) is napping and it is overcast and blustery outside.  Just right.

Blessings,

Daphne

Introducing "Homegirl"!

Our little lady, Eleanor Mae, joined us on Thursday morning (June 7), at 9:30!

She and Mama (and Daddy and Big Brother) are all doing well and can't wait to watch her grow!

Blessings,

One Happy Mama

Happy Friday!

Blessings and beachy wishes for you this weekend!

Daphne

I'm still here!

Wow - it's been a long time!  Sorry!  We have completed our move to the Jersey Shore (and are Loving it!), sold our house in New Orleans, our new place is almost to the point where it feels like home and I am due to have this baby girl TOMORROW (though I would not mind one itty bitty bit if she came today...)!!!

So, a lot has been going on.  That and the fact that the camera cord is here somewhere (meaning I haven't downloaded any pictures) is why I haven't posted.

BUT - a lot of sewing/creating/starting to decorate/cooking/canning has been going on and I will share that with you all real soon.

I promise.

(the few pictures I do have are from photobooth on the computer - this is a card that I painted and then scanned and printed- something am going to be doing more of in the future to stock the shop!  I sent this pic to my Dad because I was so excited that I actually got the whole process to work - his smart comment was, "that's nice, making the kids read backwards".  Thanks Dad.)  ;)

As soon as I find that cord...and/or this baby gets here...

Blessings,

Daphne

A trip and a tip

Some highlights from the trip earlier this month:

The beach!!!

Lunch at Ikea!  SO GOOD!  (we don't have an Ikea here, so this was an adventure)

Dunkin' Donuts Vanilla Chai.  

There is one DD in New Orleans, and it is ALL the way across town, AND they don't have a vanilla chai machine so it's really not even worth going.

And now for the tip.  When traveling and eating with our toddler, we found entertainment necessary while we waited for food.  He loves to color, but sometimes papers slip out from under crayons, etc.

I had a sticky pad in my purse and found that it worked out really well if I overlapped all the edges, so for the most part the whole thing was stuck to the table or pieces to each other.

Presto entertainment!

More soon...

hopefully..

maybe?

It's a little nuts around here with the house of the market and the move around the corner.

Blessings,

Daphne

Hello Again!

Sorry for the extended absence - we were up in New Jersey finding a place to live because we're moving in about a month!!!!!  (CRAZY!)

We did find a little place that should be perfect for us and is just blocks from the beach - woot woot!!

While we were gone, I did a bit of art journaling (enjoying that so very much).

I was also able to stop in to Home Made and meet the very lovely owner Julie and Dot, a patron that loves the shop!  So fun.  

Looking forward to being able to attend some knitting afternoons there!

Still need to finish:

- my needlebook

- the baby quilt for the baby who will be one before we know it!

-something I am forgetting...hmmm, that's not good

Anyway - I don't have pictures from the trip ready yet, so here are some updates to the Etsy shop!

Hope you all are well,

Blessings,

Daphne

On the needles

I finally started the leg warmers for homegirl.

This is all the farther I've gotten, though.

I'm using this pattern.

It is great!  But I am not, and I messed up so I'm deviating a bit from the pattern.

We'll see how they turn out.

I just love the colorway of this yarn - they can't turn out that bad...right?

What are you up to these days?

Blessings,

Daphne

The Word

A Coast Guard helicopter crashed Tuesday night in Mobile, AL.  

My husband is a Coast Guard pilot and when anything like this happens it hits way too close to home.

This is something I fear every time he goes to work.  The Coast Guard and especially the aviation community within the Coast Guard is so small, we all know each other and that makes it so difficult when things like this happen.  

Three of the four crew have been recovered, deceased.  The search continues for the fourth.

They were training.  Training to do the mission their fellow Coasties are doing right now to find them.

What I have been reminded, though the week has been very difficult, is that God is good.  

No matter what.

May God Bless and Keep them and their families.

Blessings,

Daphne

sharing here today

A picture for you today

So, some of you may remember my phone issues - short story is it got wet and died.

My wonderful husband got me a new one.

An even better one.

And it takes pretty darn good photos.

This one being one of my favorites ever.

Blessings friends,

Daphne

-please keep the Coast Guard aviation community in your prayers today.  thank you- 

Some finally's

Finally - some sewing!

A play mat for the little one and his trains/helicopters (the landing pad is the red cross dealy).

It is not finished yet...because hopefully in its finished state it won't crumple so easily.

I'm going to back it with towels or a blanket I think, to give it some weight.

If it isn't obvious, a pattern was not used for this.  I just picked out scraps I thought would work, had a rough sketch and went to town.  It's sort of 'abstract' - which I like and the little one seems to like it too!

(when the dog is not laying on it) 

Another one of those project ideas that has been in my head for at least a year.  

Now that we're getting ready to move, I want to use up scraps and get some things done and out of my head - there is only room for so much in there! 

Also (finally) got most everything together for my needle book class with Susan!

Still need silk ribbon and to pick out floss colors.

So excited to get started stitching!  

The class is AWESOME - I am learning so many tips and tricks and the 'proper' ways of doing things.  Susan has made lots of videos for the class and they are so helpful (and it's been fun to put a voice with a face!).  I've taken several on-line courses, but none with video.  It's really fun!

And for painting....just picked up this book after seeing Lisa's watercolor journal and her mention of the book.  Really excited to dig in and get better about being consistent with my painting and journaling.

Have a blessed Tuesday!

Daphne

The Word

I read this scripture last night and it spoke volumes to me - our house went on the market yesterday!

So so much going on around here.  We've had a great visit with my folks this week, they head back tomorrow.  Then more house stuff/getting ready to move, I suppose.

I was a bit over-ambitious when I promised sewing news the other day - sorry!  I did get something sewn but it's not quite finished yet.  Monday, maybe?

Have a wonderful weekend friends!!

Blessings,

Daphne

(I'm linking up with sneak peek friday again!)

blog

Mardi Gras Mambo

Happy Mardi Gras Y'all!

Mom and I went to the end of Rex

Floats from Bacchus

The aftermath that most visitors don't see.

Mardi Gras parades produce A LOT of trash.

Sorry to end on a not so happy note - but to make up for it, I have more sewing news tomorrow!

Blessings and Happy Mardi Gras,

Daphne

The Pillows are Finished!

Hooray! 

Here is the line up.  

It has only taken me about a year to make 4, 14 x 14" pillows.

As my husband pointed out, though, 

it really only took about a week to do the actual making...

I just had to get started.

A huge shout out to Erin at Why Not Sew Quilts for the kick start to 

get me going with the hand-quilt-along!  Thank you!!

The black churn dash squares are hand pieced - everything else was done on the machine.

I have loved traditional blocks and piecing for a long time, but never actually put any together.

It is addictive, I love the finished look!

These are all made with scraps of my grandmother's clothes.

They will be going to her children and grandchildren 

(mine isn't done yet - but isn't that the way it always goes???)

And the two different types of backs.  I had a few t-shirts of hers that was able to use

which was nice because they are so stretchy they were easy to get the pillow forms in!

My folks are visiting this week - and it's Mardi Gras tomorrow!

Busy busy.

Blessings,

Daphne

A few starts and a finish

In this corner we have the "starts"!

A baby quilt that I'm FINALLY getting done (sorry Evie!).  It's that silly math, had me in a twitter for almost a year now.  When I finally sat down and figured it out - it wasn't so bad.  The top is put together and I'll hopefully have more pictures soon.

I'm hand quilting along with Erin over at Why Not Sew (such a fun blog!) and completing another FINALLY project.  This one has also been in my head for at least a year and the supplies (a big bag of pillows!) have been sitting in my craft room for just as long. 

I plan on making a quilt for the quilt along, but first I am making squares that will become pillows from some scraps of my Grandmother's clothes.  These will go to her children and grandchildren.   I think it's taken me so long because I was afraid to mess it up.  

These 6" blocks are the perfect size though and will be quick to put together.  Come join us!

And in this corner - the "finish"!

Finished another baby hat for the little lady (or "home-girl" as my husband affectionately refers to her)!

I made this one a little bigger though since she will be a summer baby and as my dear friend pointed out - she probably won't need a dozen newborn hats.  Hopefully there is enough yarn left to make some baby leg warmers.  Oh my goodness, they are so cute - chubby little legs in chubby little wool!  Have you seen them??  If you haven't, Etsy and Ravelry are full of them!

Tomorrow - another Word post.  I'm really excited about this one!

Blessings,

Daphne