-2012-

I am a little late in writing my end of the year post, but hey...that goes for everything in my life right now. ;0)  This is the best picture we got of our kiddies on Christmas Eve.  So hard to get all four kids looking and smiling!  I made the two older girls' dresses using Oliver + S Playdate Dress pattern.  I have had this pattern in my stash for years, and I was glad I finally took the plunge!  I love how they turned out.  They are Christmas-y without being super fancy.  My kids are hard on their clothes, and it was nice to have washable dresses.  The hardest part of this pattern was the yoke...tricky!  Once I got past this part though, the pattern is pretty easy.

My favorite picture...my oldest and youngest.  I love these girls.

Here are some of my favorite projects from 2012.  What a strange year.  My sewing/crafting went through a lot of dry spells this year.  However, cross stitching and knitting saved me at the end of the year!  I was in desperate need to have more portable and put downable projects.  I loved learning how to knit.  I have wanted to learn for years, and I am having so much fun.  I will come back later this week to show more of what I have been knitting lately!

Thanks for stopping by and reading!  Here is to a wonderful 2013!

xoxo,

Meg

-january-

Amanda (MsMcPorkchop) and her friend, Ashleigh, have a super cute sampler happening for 2013.  Each month they send you a little woodland theme to stitch!  When I saw what the theme was I knew I wanted to jump in on this!  I had so much fun stitching the Winterwoods sampler and having a little something to stitch here and there.  This month's theme was little deer!  Aren't they adorable?  

For this sampler...

 I am using Cosmo floss, and I got the kit here.

The linen is 28 count Cashel linen: dirty, and I got it here.

You can sign up for the sampler here!  You can get it for $10 for a couple more days before the price goes up!

-knitting-

So, I have been knitting...I finished the Millwater cowl a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't make it as long as the pattern says, but I like the length!  My first finished knit!  Yay!

I was so excited that I went out to our local yarn store and started hunting around for some yarn for a honey cowl.  I have loved this pattern ever since I saw it (as did everyone else out there!)  I found some yarn in the clearance section which is a pretty, shimmery gray.  It is a cashmere/silk/rayon and super stiff, so it took me awhile to get used to it.  It was really hurting my wrists at first.  However, once I blocked it, the yarn really softened up!  So, I am moving on from cowls and for my next project I am going to try and tackle a vest for Josiah for Christmas!  *crossing fingers*

I am popping onto the sewing machine here and there, but lately I am *so* tired at the end of the day.  You should see us once we put the kids to bed.  We both become zombies on the couch for half an hour before we can even speak.  haha.  The life of parents with four small kiddos.

-winterwoods sampler-

My Winterwoods Sampler is framed!  I have loved this project.  I felt like I was in a crafting slump over the summer.  I really wanted to have a project, but nothing was hitting the right note.

I took this slow.  I worked on it while homeschooling, sitting in a Dave Ramsey class we took at church, and watching movies in the evening.

One of the reasons why I think I liked this sampler so much is that I could just stitch one little part and feel like I "completed" something.  I didn't put myself on a schedule and just stitched when I felt like it.      I really wanted to enjoy the process.  Sometimes that is not very easy for me to do.  *cough* ;0)

I have never framed a cross stitch before, so I asked some ladies at our quilt guild if they had any recommendations.  I ended up using a Pres on mounting board.  I tried looking for it at some of our local craft stores, but I couldn't find anything bigger than 8" x 10". So, I got one off of Amazon.  (Oh, how I love thee, Amazon.) It took me a few tries to get it positioned right but was quite easy to do.

 A big thank you to Ginny and Grace for starting this stitch along. 

-wallets and pouches-

I made these coloring wallets for my niece and nephew for their birthdays a few weeks back.  I have made several of these coloring wallets (pattern by jcasa).  They were my go to birthday present for a couple of years, but it has been awhile since I made one.  These are great to use up large scraps though and go together quickly.

For the boy wallet I used a Japanese car fabric that I had leftover from Josiah's pants I made during Kids Clothes Week and a blue solid for the lining.

For the girl wallet I used a Japanese princess and the frog fabric leftover from Juliana's bento box carrier and a green solid.  I do interface the outside and the lining to make them sturdy, but iron on interfacing does crinkle a bit since it is folded, and this is especially noticeable on the inside.

I also made my first Christmas gift!  This is the Idea Pouch from Michelle Patterns.  I bought this when she first released the pattern.  I changed the button closure to use a rubber band because I didn't like having to wrap a string, and I think this makes it look a little more streamlined. 

 I really think this is a versatile pattern.  It can fit an iPad, a composition book, or I also think it would be nice for an embroidery project- you  could keep a hoop and pattern in the main part and adjust the pockets on the inside for your floss, needles, and scissors.  I am definitely going to make another for me after the holidays.  For the fabric I used two half yards from Madrona road.  However, the pattern does call for 2/3 yards because of the height of the pieces.  Fabric.com usually cuts their fabric a bit generously.  I was lucky, and it worked!  

I also made myself a new wallet.  This is the Zip Pocket Pouch from Michelle Patterns.  My old wallet was the same pattern in the big size.  This is the tall.  My old one somehow ended up in the kitchen trash can.  Hmm...I have my suspicions on how that happened.  I definitely couldn't keep it...trust me.   

I love this cute typewriter fabric, and this is a super fun pattern to put together.

I am a huge fan of all of Michelle's patterns, and she currently has all of her patterns on sale for $5 until 11/25!  I definitely would recommend her patterns to even a beginner because she has such great details on how to get your bag or pouch to look professional.  Go check them out!

I will be back later this week to show you my finished cowl!  Yay!

-little bits-

My Felicity turned five this week.  She has been waiting for this day ever since her big sister's birthday, and finally it came!  She was so happy and pleased as punch with all her gifts.

  One of the best things about having a number of kids is getting to see how different they all are.  She is a very sweet and easy going child (most of the time).  This is so nice since *cough* I have two other children who are not so easy going.  Klutz is her middle name though.  She trips and falls all the time.  She has broken one of our kitchen chairs trying to smell muffins.  The band aid box is needed weekly if not daily.  However, she has such a kind, gentle heart, and I am so proud of my big girl.

She received the coveted American Girl doll who looks like her.  She named her Isabella.

I am also starting to plan for my Christmas crafting.  I bought some Cherry Christmas and some red polka dots to make some Christmas dresses for the girls.

I have also started my first knitting project!  I am making Millwater (per Angela's recommendation!).  I am having so much fun making it! It is guaranteed that this time of year I start craving some yarn projects, but this time I am learning to knit!  This has opened up all sorts of possibilities, and I have become obsessed with Ravelry!  If you knit or crochet, come be friends with me over there!!

Also, I finished my Winterwoods Sampler!  I love it!  I want to get it framed before sharing it with you all first though!

-pillow talk swap 9 complete!-

The past couple of weeks have been so tiring (the time change- it messes with everything!) and busy with halloween, soccer, and birthday stuff.  It just going to get busier- I know.  I am contemplating taking next week off of school to catch up on some projects around the house and to prep for Christmas.  One advantage of homeschooling...

 I haven't had much time to sew.  However, this past weekend I finished up my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap.  I quilted it with swirls- they are a little "organic".  I hope my partner doesn't mind!  However, I do like the look and will try it again in the future.

I am happy to cross this project off the list, and I am looking forward to getting something in my mailbox in the next week or so!

For the back I used this gray text print.  My partner likes text prints, and I kind of felt bad for not using any on the front! ;0)

You can find my previous post on this pillow here!

Happy November and happy sewing!!  Time to get the Christmas crafty groove going!