Checking in Mid-May!

Hello Everyone!!! 

May is flying by and we are all so busy here! The girls are ready for summer and truthfully I am too, but alas, it is still a good month away! So its off to school/work we go! However, we have been pretending to be on vacation on the weekends! The weather hasn't decided what to do either...some days are hot and humid (high 80's) and other days are rainy, windy and only in the 40's. These kind of days run back to back.

I have had a chance to sew some things. I had some pants to hem for hubby and some testing to do for the wonderful Scientific Seamstress! Sneak peaks below! And, I also decided to begin another quilt, even though my other one isn't done. Before I began the quilt, I wanted to practice my piecing skills, so I made a patchwork twirl and a matching top from a charm pack. I supplemented to the pack and I think it came out darling. Great for Devon or Brook to wear to Sarah's upcoming "graduation" from 6th grade. Yep...you heard that right...my little angel baby girl is finishing elementary school in one short month..sigh.

So here is the start of the skirt! I love charm packs...everything is already cut and square and mixed! I love to lay out the squares and plan the layers!

And here is the finished outfit!!! The twirl skirt.....

And the top with the skirt!

 

Speaking of beautiful fabrics.....Jennifer Paganelli has some gorgeous new fabrics coming out! Have you seen Poodle? Absolutely gorgeous, rich colors and patterns! Check out her blog for details!!! She has the most beautiful quilt pic there today! 

As you can probably gather....Jennifer's fabrics move me...and touch my spirit so much so that I finally decided to try out my non-existent quilting skills and redo my bedroom with a Jennifer Paganelli quilt. I was sure I would be happy looking at a quilt I made, mistakes and all! So I found a free pattern with her fabrics. I picked the Sis Boom Basics Quilt but decided to do it mostly with her new line, St. Croix. I also mixed in some Pretty Please stripes!  I had to enlarge it to be a queen-size however. I happily pulled out my calculator, graph paper, pencil and ruler!!!! I loves me some quilt math!!! Then I ordered a bunch of fabric from a wonderful shop, Quilt Home. They were so efficient and quick and my fabric arrived all neatly packed and bundled!!! Feast your eyes.......

So with my quilt plans in hand and my trusty rotary cutter and ruler, I carefully began. I didn't fussy cut the blocks so I hope it still looks right. I decided to just dive in and not over-plan like I am apt to do! So, above are my squares and rectangles....and below,  is my first block! Only 55 more to go!!!

While I am at it, I thought I would show you something else I have been sewing.....boxers! I have been testing these for a soon-to-happen pattern release of Sis Boom and Scientific Seamstress! So stay tuned! They are fast and easy to assemble and Carla makes it easy with lots of pics and step-by-step directions!  (sorry for the wrinkles in the second pic!)

 

And one final thing craft item....see it pays to hang out on Facebook! I noticed that Beadiful Kids was having a sale on necklaces. There are not your normal everyday necklaces...these are gorgeous hand-made polymer clay and bead necklaces....that are colorful and very well made!!!! The sculpting on the clay is very intricate and I absolutely love it. I WILL be back to order more!  (Oh and I forgot to tell you why I needed the necklace. Brooklyn is finally having her birthday party....6 months after her birthday...and the theme is Mermaid by the Sea!)

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Meanwhile our weekends have been filled with activities, swim lessons and general fun! We've been able to take a few walks down to the Bay and back! The girls tried out a gymnastics studio and are looking forward to a summer gymnastics camp. It is still in the works...not definite yet. Sarah is undecided as of yet. 

Last weekend we attended the Wildwood Crest 100th anniversary festival! There were pony rides and a bouncy bounce! Food and crafts! And the weather cooperated! Before we left, the girls played on the playground too!

Meanwhile, back at home, other developments were taking place. A long anticipated outdoor shower was installed! For now, we are showering with bathing suits ON....but next year, we will have the shower stall walls up! It will be so nice to get all the sand off the kids BEFORE they traipse across my poor floor!

 

 

I have no idea why I took the pic above....I think the girls were running around and around and around the house before the mosquitos appeared. And below....they were practicing headstands on the sofa! LOL! They play everything they do.

 

I have to tell you something funny. At the above Festival, the girls both painted seashells. We left them to dry while we enjoyed the rest of the activities. Well, when we arrived home, I remembered the shells and stupid me...said something. Well, Devon cried over her left-behind shell for an hour. So this weekend, I picked up paint (cool stuff...its paint in marker form...see below...not messy at all!) and glitter and shells. They had a great time decorating new shells! They even did it when their friend, Julia, came over.

  

And finally, a chance to get close to nature came up when Sarah was invited by her best friend to go camping! Luckily, they were going to a camp site close to home...and they were so sweet to include Sarah. Not only that but the little girls and I joined them Saturday night for dinner and fun! We really enjoyed a yummy grilled meal, relaxation, smores and a fun game of Apples to Apples! I really gotta get this game! Its a blast! Oh how we giggled and laughed.

So, that's all for now! I am off to get everyone in bed and squeeze in some last minute sewing before the work week begins again. Hope everyone is well and enjoying the days we have been given. 
God Bless!!!!!!