Jay Hess 4/3/12 Jay Hess 4/3/12

free memories

I just want to state that this is not an ad or a gimmick...I wish it was, then I would be making some money...but this is something that has really worked for our family. Jay and I both are really great about taking pictures constantly. I think we are so afraid of missing something that we always have the camera on hand. Even when we do not have the camera we always have our phones that have a decent camera. It is great to take a lot of pictures, but printing them off and making them into something is just as important. Today I received my third free photo book in the mail from shutterfly. I think we initially got on their mailing list when Charlotte was born and we ordered her birth announcements. I believe we even had a coupon for those also!

About every three months they send out a free 8x8 hardbound book promotion. I have to say that I have used every offer that they have sent out, but typically I am trying to get it created before the promotion expires hours before it is due, always in bed, wishing I had done it earlier in the day and not at bed time. I have decided that in twenty or thirty years I will not remember that I made every book in bed cursing myself for waiting to the last minute, but I will be happy to have the memories documented.

Ahhh, memories in the making. It is already fun to go back and see how she has changed so much!

I really like that they are hard covered and bound just like a book, I feel they are a little heavier duty that way.

You can also limit the amount of time you use with the books. You can choose to customize every aspect of your book or you can have them autofill a book for you. The control freak in me loves how every page can look just as I want it!

I know that Charlotte will love looking at these in upcoming years...but not yet, she is too rough! Now my only challenge is to keep them just out of her reach!

Hope you are encouraged to sign up, make an account at shutterfly and maybe very soon start making free memories!

-melissa

Jay Hess 4/1/12 Jay Hess 4/1/12

multiplying bunnies

It has been a rough weekend here at our house. I picked Charlotte up from Ms. Jamie's house on Friday and took her straight to the doctor. It turned out that she has her first major cold. With a 103.5 temperature and a double ear infection it is easy to say that it has been an interesting day or so. She is slowly recovering and although she essentially did no sleeping or eating yesterday, today she is currently rocking out a close to three hour nap. The break has been great for me! Nothing can make me feel normal again like sewing...I knocked out these little guys last night and today during nap time. They just need to be given to some cute little bunnies that we know!

I found the idea for these great bunnies over at www.lilblueboo.com. What an easy and fun easter gift!

-melissa

Jay Hess 3/25/12 Jay Hess 3/25/12

easter basket

Jay and I have always shared a family easter basket. It is a very big basket that shows up every easter morning stuffed with candy, small gifts and typically an iTunes gift card or two! I just assumed that I would be okay with having Charlotte share that basket with us. We would have one big family communal basket and I would be fine with that. Last year I was. This year, she has such a personality and I think it would be oh so cute for her to have her own little basket that is just her size. I quickly whipped this basket up, it was a one nap project (2 hours from start to finish). The inspiration for this easter basket came from here, but I changed it up a bit. Instead of sewing each layer together I weaved it together with the fabric. Check out what I did...

I first chose six fun, bright, simple fat quarters.

Cut them into one inch thick strips.

Attached all strips together as shown here and then wrapped the long strips around this cord.

I was careful to wrap a couple loops around the cord and then to wrap it around the previous row (this attaches every strand snuggly).

After you have a base size that you are happy with start stacking up!

When you run out of cord, simply use a strong tape to tape both ends together, you will never be able to tell when you are finished!

After you are finished with the base of the basket, make a simple handle. I choose to braid three cords together and attach to the inside of the basket with hot glue.

All ready for little hands to discover!

-melissa

Jay Hess 3/24/12 Jay Hess 3/24/12

a calm saturday

Today is the first day in more than a month that we do not have a huge list of things that need to be accomplished. It feels good. I started the day with a first time event in more than a year! I awoke at seven because birds were chirping so loud, not because of C, and yes at seven! What a great start to a relaxing day! With that in mind I am ready to go for the day! I have had some time to start thinking about projects that I would like to do in the next couple of weeks. My creative juices and my sewing spirit is slowly coming back after the Christmas-30th birthday quilt-1st birthday sewing festivities.

Todays plans include:

playing on the front porch

going for a walk

reading some books (all made with hard cardboard, plot of all generally about colors)

heading to some fabric stores to start Beth's birthday quilt (yeah, remember that...it was awhile ago, did I mention she was patient!)