tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3534859745909744042012-01-04T06:57:44.732-08:00My little corner of the web to ramble about handmade goodness.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.comBlogger2411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-9475100951779957862011-06-10T08:13:00.000-07:002011-06-10T08:14:10.888-07:00

I've been feeling really guilty lately for not posting around here. I'm so sorry there's no crafty goodness to share. We've been finding our groove with 3 little boys and everyone is doing well. Amazingly, we're coming up on the 10 week mark with baby boy. It's a cliche and so true: it goes too fast, much much too fast. There are play dates, lots of help from Daddy, time with family, a dirty

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-25135689510814764652011-04-17T12:48:00.000-07:002011-04-17T12:48:25.699-07:00

Our newest little man arrived 2 weeks ago and has completely stolen my heart. It's so true that love multiplies with each child, rather than being further divided. Sorry it took me this long to sit down at the computer with an update. Hopefully, there will be more frequent sewing updates in the near future (I am working on a quilt for a friend that I can't wait to show you!).  We've had lots of

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-48654947742828778312011-04-01T16:20:00.000-07:002011-04-01T18:44:22.946-07:00

Hello, hello! I hope you're all having a wonderful start to spring and enjoying all your crafty endeavors. We are all about baby around here. I've got less than a week to go until my due date and cannot wait to meet this little man. Shockingly, I'm not feeling desperate or miserable...yet. Maybe by the third time around I've learned enough about this pregnancy thing to know that babies come out

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-42545375089142056842011-01-12T17:17:00.000-08:002011-01-12T17:17:52.105-08:00

We've got one busy house right now with baby #3 on the way, our house on the market, and 2 little monkeys who keep me very busy. So, I've decided to take a break from the blog for awhile to enjoy all my guys and concentrate on what needs to be done at home. While my head is always swimming with new sewing projects and ideas, I just can't get it all done right now. Sometimes, I feel bad for my

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-17193400167620880952011-01-01T13:35:00.000-08:002011-01-01T13:35:29.989-08:00

Happy New Year to you and yours!I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed lots of time with family and friends. We are lucky enough to have a ton of family within driving distance and got to see most of them over the last week or so. I had big plans to take fun pictures of what we did...and, in the end, I just wanted to enjoy the moments and left my camera in the bag. Sometimes, it's so

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-72891067498685510132010-12-22T10:29:00.000-08:002011-01-01T12:53:01.863-08:00

I was supposed to post a giveaway on Monday...it's Wednesday now! How did that happen?? Ack. Christmas has taken over at our house, which is generally wonderful, but leaves little time for anything else. So, please accept my apologies and a chance to win yourself a little something.I just LOVE giving gifts and jumped at the chance to give you this. You work hard to get ready for the holidays. 

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com93tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-47418100757177003152010-12-17T20:30:00.000-08:002010-12-17T20:30:01.163-08:00

We have a winner for the Sew Mama Sew giveaway!  Carol, who was comment #57 (picked by random.org), and will be getting these in the mail. Congratulations! I was inspired to try out a bokeh shot by Cheryl We've been having a lot of edible Christmas goodies around here, too... I do love Christmas baking. There's even an ornament from last year attesting to the fact. The boys and I have been

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-9629999484623999442010-12-12T22:00:00.000-08:002010-12-17T19:15:48.506-08:00

If you're new here, welcome and thanks for stopping by! Today, I'm participating in Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day when an amazing number and variety of bloggers and shops offer up their crafty goodness just to share it with everyone else.If you haven't seen the amazing lineup of giveaways, head over and check it out. I created a handmade set of 6 Christmas coasters to give away. Each quilted top is

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com175tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-33451219186000257072010-12-10T08:14:00.000-08:002010-12-10T08:14:00.450-08:00

This weekend, I get to fly up to Portland, Oregon and visit one of my dearest friends. A whole weekend with her and her lovely family and I am so excited! And what is a trip without a little sewing? OK...I admit that this sentiment is not universally shared, but this trip called for a little sewing. Before I get to my sewing, does anyone have recommendations for very cool fabric stores in

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-46543933905819204282010-12-06T09:05:00.000-08:002010-12-06T09:05:00.774-08:00

Hello there!! I've missed hanging out with you all on the blog and hope you're having a wonderful December. I am so sorry that it's been such a terribly long time since I've posted. We have had a crazy house here with the holidays getting underway and the fact that we put our house on the market recently. Just getting the house ready and keeping it clean with our circus (as I fondly refer to the

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-42062056465650332082010-11-15T19:59:00.000-08:002010-11-16T14:34:42.170-08:00

If you like vinyl wall art, you are in luck because I've got a giveaway with your name on it! Read on... One of the coolest things about having a crafty/sewing blog is meeting other crafting/sewing types and sometimes even getting to work together.Recently, Susannah over at uVinyl contacted me about collaborating on a vinyl project and giveaway. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance. I had

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-13095409778444166982010-11-12T16:58:00.000-08:002010-11-12T16:58:25.628-08:00

It isn't often that I get to leave the house sans kiddos, and even less often that I get out with the girls and without kids. But tomorrow, I get to do both with this crafty girl, Natalie, at the Queen Bee Market! If you're in the San Diego area, it's being held at the Del Mar Hilton {free admission means more cash to spend on handmade goodness} and I'd love to meet other crafty folks there.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-40535387697219194092010-11-11T15:42:00.000-08:002010-11-11T21:07:02.827-08:00

Or, I guess I should ask, "Where did fall decorations go?"  Maybe I haven't been paying attention these last few years. Maybe stores have had to mercilessly slash the seasonal merchandise that doesn't bring in revenue.Maybe I'm not quite ready for Christmas decorations (though you'll know when I am). But, whatever the reason, I am having a heck of a time finding Thanksgiving decor. Apparently

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-90877833475688126272010-11-08T13:30:00.000-08:002010-11-10T08:45:38.196-08:00

The belly at Kit Carson Park in Escondido...looking twice as big with the split in the mirrors. If you live in San Diego, you've got to take the kids here. It's a huge, beautiful park with a sculpture garden to frolic in.   Yesterday we had the BIG ultrasound appointment and we're on our way to a sports team with another baby boy! This is our third boy (and, if you were wondering, our last

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-56077104695762954602010-11-01T08:40:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:01:50.871-07:00

I hope you had a wonderful Halloween! The men of the house carved pumpkins...a little messy for Mommy... I promptly roasted the seeds as soon as I could claim them. And I made candy apples.  I LOVED candy apples as a kid.The memory of a flavor wrapped up in an experience is never as good as the real thing, but these came pretty close. I especially like the skulls reflected in the candy

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-10403980973997530182010-10-27T14:11:00.000-07:002010-10-28T09:17:57.417-07:00

Cheap black wreath + black glitter clip-on bird from Michael's. So simple and yet it makes me smile every time I come through the door. Surprisingly enough, I've discovered that I actually like Halloween since having kids. Who knew? I remember a college roommate of mine used to decorate our whole place with cobwebs and pumpkins and scary galore and I used to think, "Really? Halloween? Huh." Well,

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-41654887360815581402010-10-14T20:03:00.000-07:002010-10-14T20:04:45.282-07:00

I could also have titled this post "Willing fall to arrive in seasonless San Diego through cooking"...all those blog posts out there about leaves changing, breezes picking up, the feel of fall in the air, they always make me long for just a little bit of weather here...sigh. As the actual title implies, I have been bored silly by cooking lately. While I've been trying super hard to keep our

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-63632338934086090422010-10-08T16:43:00.000-07:002010-10-08T16:43:57.551-07:00

My first mini quilt, that is.  And the first project I've ever bought 1/8 yard cuts of fabric for. I felt like the girl at the cut table would call me out for not being a true seamstress and I'd have to prove my worth by listing the many many yards I have at home. But that's neither here nor there... A girlfriend of mine is getting married tomorrow - yeah! A girlfriend I've known for almost 20

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-7696176505644596022010-10-04T07:52:00.000-07:002010-10-04T07:52:52.201-07:00

Remember that review I mentioned awhile back? Well, I've mixed it with a little sewing. Of course. It was great timing when CSN Stores asked me if I wanted to do this, because we really needed some new sheets for our bed. We got these and they're super soft. They're not luxury sheets but I think they'll hold up well and be comfy for a long time. Really, what more can a mommy ask for? And while

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-3323256558666428602010-09-27T19:16:00.000-07:002010-09-27T19:16:13.617-07:00

We have big news in our house...I'm pregnant with our third child!I couldn't think of any clever way to drop that on you so I just came right out with it. Here's our little peanut at 12 weeks. Blurry and blobby. Ahhhh.... I'm about 13 weeks right now and feeling great. I'm more tired than usual and hungrier, of course. And when I'm bun-in-the-oven-hungry, I eat. I. Eat. All. The. Time. For what

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-14186160363635266602010-09-17T07:43:00.000-07:002010-09-17T07:45:10.339-07:00

If you need a fun gift topper or stocking stuffer, this has got to go on your list...and if you have any jewelry skills, I imagine you could crank out a whole bunch. Yesterday, we had some friends over (both the little variety and Mommy variety) for a crafty play date and we had a blast. My friend Galit (yes, the Galit who makes beautiful jewelry, like these and these) came over with her beads

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-80282633954013857442010-09-02T20:50:00.000-07:002010-09-02T20:50:10.253-07:00

Hi there! I know it's been quiet around the little blog lately...that usually means that it's anything but quiet here at home.We've been having lots of fun enjoying the end of summer and time seems to be speeding up somehow. Play dates, slip & slide, and popsicles. Some super fun San Diego outings that I love. Not nearly as much sewing as I would like...but could there ever be enough? Come on.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-27124318172224956962010-08-23T16:07:00.000-07:002010-08-23T16:07:51.889-07:00

Breaking News: slipper gripper shrinks! Okay, so maybe this is only news to me. I always prewash my fabrics but it never occurred to me to prewash my slipper gripper...guess I should read up on these things before jumping in, huh?  These place mats before... The same place mats out of the wash...(not even dried in the dryer...just a cold delicate wash and laid out flat to dry!) Ack. The good

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-82791042216508468662010-08-20T06:00:00.000-07:002010-08-20T06:00:07.056-07:00

I am the first to admit that many blogging skills elude me. Flickr is one of them. I'm just now loading up some of my favorite shots from the blog to my photostream. Even better, some of you are loading your photos onto the Handmade Mommy flickr group so that I can see the super cute things you make!  Like these 15 Minute Jammy Pants made by courtiepie! (she also has a really cute etsy shop petit

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-54712144092529526622010-08-18T17:25:00.000-07:002010-08-24T07:02:14.614-07:00

This is a quick little project that I've been wanting to do for a long time. During naptime today, I finally got around to it! And I got to use my slipper gripper so my place mats stay put and hopefully catch more of the mess. I've been dying to use this stuff since I found it at my local fabric store. What is slipper gripper, you ask? It looks like this and comes in 15" yardage on the bolt. Oh

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-59948870940421008492010-08-17T20:49:00.000-07:002010-08-17T20:53:16.676-07:00

I don't know about you, but I've read blogs with product reviews and thought, "Hey, I would love to try out stuff and then write about it. How can I get in on this?" Well, I'm in on it now. Shocking. The nice folks over at CSN stores (you know, the website that has absolutely everything from Corelle to cribs to compressors) recently contacted me about a product review and I jumped at the chance.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-72446477047841743712010-08-16T06:00:00.001-07:002010-08-16T06:00:04.998-07:00

 My sister is leaving for grad school halfway across the country in a couple weeks. And while I am so very very proud of her, I'm also very very sad. We've been spoiled to have her close by and my boys love her to pieces. But this will be a great adventure for her and it is where her heart longs to be. But saying "Goodbye" and "I love you" are not enough. My machine and I have our own ways of

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-41174349228864204402010-08-13T07:00:00.000-07:002010-08-13T07:49:47.316-07:00

Abby over at Sew Much Ado recently asked me if I'd like to post for her Flashback Friday series and I jumped at the chance. She has some great posts in the series, funny, sweet, nostalgic, all worth checking out. Head on over to read my guest post about this quilt...

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-46582512386819259192010-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:002010-08-11T16:42:28.900-07:00

Inspired by Cheryl's post here (which was first inspired by these), I went bean bag crazy.First, I made a set for each of my boys as Christmas gifts.What? You haven't started Christmas gifts yet? Their names are spelled out on the reverse sides...but I keep their little lives under wraps so you'll just have to use your imagination. Then, I made a set for a friend's daughter's birthday. I

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-5388540924676802592010-08-09T07:00:00.000-07:002010-08-09T07:00:07.244-07:00

Sometimes, there is never enough time to spend with dear friends. Like the friends who came visiting from Portland (oh, beautiful Portland, you are always so far away...). We got almost a week with them and their 3 kids packed into our little house, filling it with chaos, fun, and an extra helping of love. We've been friends since college, my girlfriend and I were roommates and in each others'

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-71936143151594306252010-08-06T12:56:00.000-07:002010-08-06T12:56:03.436-07:00

I love when my kids beg for stuff like fresh peaches in the grocery store.I couldn't even get a picture without a little hand grabbing for one. And they beg to eat them before their lunch is even made.How can I deny them beautiful fresh peaches eaten right over the sink? That's all I've got. We've been having lots of fun and I'll post on it next week. But have a great weekend and enjoy the

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-77513222811783518422010-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:002010-08-02T06:00:05.126-07:00

Inevitably, I have our camera swinging from my wrist when we're out and about. Then I don't have to dig in the bag past the wipes, diapers, sippies, and snack wrappers when the-most-adorable-moment-my-kids-have-ever-had happens (come to think of it, those happen a lot around here...). While I love my little camera, the strap it hangs from is nothing to write home about.  But yesterday I stumbled

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-36748054607431605382010-07-28T20:00:00.000-07:002010-08-04T09:34:18.322-07:00

Sometimes I just have to change things up around the house so I can enjoy looking at them. One such spot is in our guest bathroom. I fell out of love with the shower curtain in there a long time ago, but a new one never made it on the list of Things We Need. So last week I took matters into my own two capable sewing hands...  And I've got a tutorial to go with it! (Because, really, why

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-47633776525695274262010-07-26T06:00:00.001-07:002010-07-26T06:00:16.310-07:00

{how cute are those little houses from our retro Monopoly set?} I'm pretty convinced that we have the best neighbors on the planet. There will be other houses, I'm sure. Other jobs. Other places. But we will never have this community again. Our neighbors love my kids, they look out for us, they come over for dinner and have us to their house, they loan us tools and DVDs, they drink wine with

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-47747572215754417262010-07-23T14:09:00.000-07:002010-07-23T14:11:09.331-07:00

Sometimes, I'm a very organized blogger...other times, not so much. About a month ago, Jason over at Meylah (the nice folks who have a TON of great info for creative entrepreneurs and they also happened to interview me) emailed me about a new FREE ebook series they've started and I completely forgot to post it. No matter how you spin it, that's just embarrassing. {hangs head in shame} This

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-32479400906734447862010-07-21T23:00:00.000-07:002010-08-04T09:35:24.573-07:00

Thanks to Chris over at Pickup Some Creativity for asking me to be a part of her Sewing 101 Series! I've got the Basics of Quilting to get you started on your first quilt.  You'll need:  -about a yard and a half total of prewashed/ironed cotton fabric (this will leave you plenty of extra) -a piece of batting or flannel measuring roughly 30" x 20"  -basting spray -disappearing ink fabric marker

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-49824014368091154792010-07-19T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-20T17:10:08.853-07:00

This weekend we went camping with a bunch of friends.Official tally: 16 kids, 18 adultsAnd it was a blast! My husband and I are already talking about another trip to the same campground in the fall. There was a little kicking back. A little splashing about.    A lot of stomping around in the dirt.What else do two little boys need? Really? There was a wildfire in this part of San Diego a few

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-27649577188847352842010-07-14T20:16:00.000-07:002010-07-21T16:19:55.597-07:00

This post is less check-out-my-project and more you-should-put-this-tutorial-on-your-list...geez, that's wordy. Oh well, you know what I mean.The pictures were taken in a blur before running out the door to the birthday bash, but I had to share the project so you can make it yourself! My son's friend just turned 4 and I made him a little chef dress-up set. I used two tutorials from ikat bag. For

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-48058866398517414732010-07-06T21:54:00.000-07:002010-07-08T13:36:44.381-07:00

I don't know about you, but zippers freak me out. Not in a waking-up-in-cold-sweats kind of way, but an I-avoid-them-at-all-costs kind of way. If you have the same strange malady, I have good news for you:I overcame my crippling zipper anxiety to make my sister a birthday gift!   And I have to thank Anna for that. The girl can whip up zippered creations like nobody's business and I used her

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-79838311687592161522010-07-03T20:06:00.000-07:002010-07-03T20:08:36.251-07:00

Beyond my family and friends (and even a giant dog), I have two other great loves. Two loves that take up a lot of my free time and satisfy my soul. Creating and Words. The first you see a lot of here in my sewing with a little jewelry/paper/paint dabbling mixed in. And my creating was acquired fairly recently. Within the last decade or so. I've tried out a handful of different things and sewing

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-65496039268259133422010-07-02T06:31:00.000-07:002010-07-02T07:16:47.766-07:00

  What could be hiding in that bag with the "Ruby" label? Why, it's Flat Ruby! A fabric "paper" doll made using this tutorial from Moda Bake Shop (super fun project to make!). She is ready for anything. A fun day at the park. Lunch with the girls. Even church on Sunday. Who doesn't love a girl who can accessorize? And she even has great hair.Is it wrong to envy a fabric creation, I wonder?

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-66248623369405043232010-07-01T08:16:00.000-07:002010-07-01T08:24:11.549-07:00

We have hard days in our house just like anybody else. Days where patience, money, time, and sleep are in short supply. But we've got lots of tickling, snuggles, playing outside, reading books, creating, love, and family. We've got amazing friends and a cozy roof over our heads. We have today and I am really really thankful for it. And I happen to have a fabulous job right under that cozy roof.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-2712217111545322832010-06-29T13:57:00.000-07:002010-06-30T08:10:19.806-07:00

After I posted the quilted duvet, a reader asked for the pattern. She was in luck because I drew it all out in advance and actually kept my work. Most amazingly, I was able to find it! You can use the how-to here to assemble the duvet itself. This is just a pattern for the quilt top based on a finished duvet of 88" x 68". I've never used or written a quilt pattern...you've been warned. Just for

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-69546070562364376872010-06-24T08:49:00.000-07:002010-07-05T20:22:20.289-07:00

For some reason, I get motivated to make quilts during the summer. A lap full of cotton and batting when temps near triple digits. Uh-huh. It doesn't make sense to me either but it gets things done. Last summer I did a lot of quilting and I've just finished my first quilt of this summer.  This is my salvaged project from here. It's simple but exactly what I wanted. I really love the back. And

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-64623658900467572822010-06-21T07:03:00.000-07:002010-06-21T07:16:31.642-07:00

 My husband did the sweetest thing with his Father's Day morning...he installed a clothesline for me. I've been shamelessly begging for a clothesline for months.Seriously, running a dryer on sunny Southern California days? That doesn't even make sense to me. A beautiful sight. The kids think it's a merry-go-round. But I think it's heaven I even made a clothespin bag. Because what is new

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-78947144545302463342010-06-18T14:08:00.000-07:002010-06-18T19:33:56.423-07:00

I could easily entitle this post "The Smartest Thing I've Ever Done" but that may be overstating things a bit. This probably isn't THE smartest thing I've ever done, but it's definitely at the top of the list. Sometimes you get a great idea, volunteer to help a friend, or start running with an idea with all the best intentions. Then, you find yourself overwhelmed or simply unable to finish

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-84596215508217141162010-06-14T19:10:00.000-07:002010-06-15T07:14:24.300-07:00

Let's say you would love a homemade quilt on that bed of yours but just can't find the time to make one (if you're like me...). But you also love your fluffy warm comforter and don't want to part with it. It sounds like you need a quilted duvet cover! Admittedly, Curious George may not be your taste, but it is a dream come true for my girlfriend Mya's 3 year old son. She asked me waaaay back

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-72530489942824369152010-06-10T17:26:00.000-07:002010-06-10T17:40:03.066-07:00

A girlfriend of mine asked me to post about my fabric organization and I was all too happy to oblige. It's a really geeky thing to want to show off your fabric organization (even typing it irreversibly cements my geekiness) but maybe others will find this helpful. So, Nat, here's your quick rundown of my fabric storage. And a peek into my sewing area tucked in the corner of our living room. {

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-89798739231642343282010-06-09T20:19:00.000-07:002010-06-10T14:36:03.989-07:00

You know, some days your kids are those kids at the play date. Some days you have a hard time getting out of bed. Some days you are really really grateful that both your kids took a nap at the same time. And, if you're very lucky, some days you get handmade earrings from a dear friend. Like today. These are a couple of stragglers from the earring making night that inspired the earring organizer.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-24518675634035672962010-06-04T06:00:00.000-07:002010-06-04T08:46:44.608-07:00

 As you already know, I love making the gifts we give. I made up some little gifts for little friends and actually had time to take pictures before they went in the mail! Here are hair clips for my girlfriend's daughter(I told you I was in love with making clips...) And my favorite of the bunch And a couple crayon rollsmade using this tutorial by Lindsey on V and Co. If you need a little gift

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-18225670126964869282010-06-02T06:05:00.000-07:002010-06-02T08:25:30.170-07:00

I don't make a whole lot of clothes for the boys, but I do love making jammies. So when the nights started getting warmer here and my 3 1/2 year old only had cool weather pajamas, I was ready to sew! I altered my 15 minute jammy pants tutorial to make boxer style shorts and picked up a pack of little boys' undershirts for the appliqued tops.  And what do little boys love?All things space related,

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-76953434189708358822010-05-30T08:29:00.000-07:002010-05-30T09:01:57.950-07:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!Just a quick note to let you know that I've added a "Subscribe By Email" option on the left sidebar. A reader emailed me asking about it (Thanks, Liz!) and it prompted me to figure it out. I know there are a lot of feeds and they can sometimes be confusing. This is an option to get an email just when I post something new so you don't have to check your feeds to find

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-87789632800596504912010-05-28T18:52:00.000-07:002010-05-28T18:58:45.101-07:00

*This is a long post with lots of "talking" to explain the process...you've at least been warned.* Awhile back, a girlfriend of mine (Hi, Janis!) mentioned that she had a chair for their nursery and she wanted a slipcover made. A friend of a friend had quoted her something like $300 for the job + fabric (which, by the way, I believe is totally fair if you know what you're doing) and she hinted

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-19611203853074516542010-05-27T06:30:00.000-07:002010-05-27T06:30:00.756-07:00

I'm back and full of crafty ideas! Let's be honest: I couldn't even stay away a whole week. I missed the little blog. Thank you so much for your kind words about my break; I really appreciated them. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed and feel like I have no idea what I'm doing and I have to take a step back and recenter. I am happy to say that our house feels a lot calmer now and I am more focused

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-30074810021822736482010-05-22T06:47:00.000-07:002010-05-22T06:47:55.689-07:00

-noun: any extended period of leave from one's customary work, especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc. * Things are falling part at our house. Figuratively, of course. And I'll be taking a little blogging break. Everything will be fine. It's nothing that can't be fixed with time. I'm sure you have those days in your house. But I need to work on my mothering and wife-ing

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-86664426526132071062010-05-19T20:56:00.000-07:002010-05-28T08:22:30.016-07:00

Thanks, Anna, for including me in the Spice Up Your Kitchen fun!You are one amazingly talented lady with superhuman inspiration and time management skills. {tip of the hat} Because I'm always looking for ways to create and simplify, I've got a tutorial for quilted canister sleeves. Crafty and organizational. Ah. And while they look great on stainless canisters, they would look just as good on

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-41262508546067100362010-05-18T07:21:00.000-07:002010-05-18T10:41:43.142-07:00

I am really getting the hang of kids' handmade gifts with all the little ones' birthdays we go to. But I have a very specific threshold: anything past about 4 years old is completely foreign to me. My kids are still little so I have no idea what older children like to get. But I got lucky this weekend when a friend's daughter (having a 9th birthday party) specifically asked for fabric and velcro

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-13641465240662992502010-05-17T08:15:00.000-07:002010-05-26T21:12:36.363-07:00

If you use this tutorial I'd love to see your creation! Feel free to post it to the Handmade Mommy Tutorials Flickr Pool. The more I sew and craft, the more of my girlfriends come out of the woodwork with their own craftiness. I love learning about what everyone else makes and am constantly impressed. My friend Galit happens to make amazing jewelry and she gave me a beautiful pair of earrings

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-1270701903031332372010-05-14T17:24:00.000-07:002010-05-14T17:29:49.460-07:00

Ripe strawberries and beautiful weather mean that summer is here...even if not officially, which I guess would be the Summer Solstice, and that's not until June. And, of course, it looks like summer for a lot of the year in San Diego. But, I digress.  So easily distracted today. What I came here to write about was strawberries, wonderful, delicious, fresh off the vine strawberries picked by my

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-26550051867649548212010-05-13T07:01:00.000-07:002010-05-13T07:01:46.877-07:00

Today I'm guest blogging over at Come and See the Seitz!  Sarah is frolicking over in Europe and asked me to fill in for the day (sort of like substitute teaching in blogland) and I was thrilled to be able to help out. So head on over and check out my little tutorial for  Quick & Easy Kitchen Trivets!

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-90590273942718935222010-05-10T08:56:00.000-07:002010-05-10T08:56:12.929-07:00

I guess I know how to get all of you to speak up now: just host a giveaway. :) Thanks to everyone for entering! I've been looking forward to picking a winner all weekend. Random.org was kind enough to pull a number out of thin air, and the winner of the $40 CSN gift card is...comment 5 by Tracy! Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you have a great week!

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-25537068915364215792010-05-09T07:49:00.000-07:002010-05-09T07:49:00.379-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms reading!  No one does your job like you do. You are invaluable to your kids; don't ever forget it. My husband and I are blessed to each have both of our grandmas still with us. So our boys have four great grandmas, which is just amazing to me. Add both of our awesome moms into the mix and we have six very important ladies to think about on Mother's Day. This

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-89175029142847600192010-05-06T07:10:00.000-07:002010-05-06T14:06:45.880-07:00

The boys and I went to Wal-Mart the other day. And while I have a love/hate relationship with Wal-Mart (as in, I love the prices and hate the mass-produced anonymity of it), I just had to stop and check out the $2 clearance t-shirts in the junior section. Well, I struck gold with this little number! And I can tell you exactly why they were on clearance for $2...the shirt you see me wearing is

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-25447209321436841832010-05-04T10:31:00.000-07:002010-05-04T14:00:44.670-07:00

I have a crush on my mailman. Admittedly, he's not really my type but he sure has a way with a mailbox. Over the last couple weeks, he has brought me three super fun packages from some super sweet ladies. First, I got the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts from my sweet friend Mya (mother and wife extraordinaire in Texas). It was even wrapped up beautifully with a handmade

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-16083135175424185852010-05-03T06:18:00.000-07:002010-05-10T06:52:14.966-07:00

Today marks my 200th post on the little blog! Amazingly, there are also over 100 of you who "follow" (though we all know you're a leader, not a follower). And over 200 crafty folks subscribe to the feed! Seriously, how did I get so lucky to have you all hanging out with me in blogland?? And what do all those numbers add up to? A giveaway to say Thank You for being here! The friendly folks over at

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-27836059872316290252010-04-29T17:10:00.000-07:002010-04-29T19:02:52.294-07:00

Today I did something a little drastic and now you get the bear the burden of my blog post...I went and had all my hair cut off. My poor husband ADORES long hair, but I gave him advance warning and explained to him that every day it makes me a little nuttier. I don't think he'll ever understand the complicated completely irrational relationship I have with my hair but I think he felt bad for me.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-37322800319531127172010-04-27T18:44:00.000-07:002010-04-28T13:16:07.704-07:00

My husband is on the left with our 3 1/2 year old on his shoulders &I'm on the right with the baby on my hip.Love the long shadows of dusk... My husband's birthday wish list was short and to the point: a family camping trip. Easy enough. So we packed up the kids in Daddy's off-road pick-up and headed out to the California desert for a 2 day/1 night camping trip (break 'em in slowly when they're

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-14924424494517337602010-04-24T18:16:00.000-07:002010-05-26T21:15:30.334-07:00

If you use this tutorial I'd love to see your creation! Feel free to post it to the Handmade Mommy Tutorials Flickr Pool. My husband will celebrate his 32nd birthday this week. Happy Birthday, Babe! He said all he wanted was a family camping trip. But I still wanted to make him something. Sadly, my own husband and kids often get the fewest handmade goodies because I'm always working on some

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-52467381644463477432010-04-20T13:31:00.000-07:002010-04-22T09:20:57.785-07:00

Over the weekend (while I was making a birthday gift for my girlfriend's son), I thought of another little tip for those of you creating handmade gifts. I used to feel that I had to create a completely unique gift for each and every loved one who was celebrating something. If I repeated a gift idea, didn't it lose something? Nah. It still got all my attention and love, along with just the right

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-36581945156383422622010-04-16T13:06:00.000-07:002010-04-16T13:06:25.245-07:00

Who doesn't like giveaways? And who doesn't like beautiful cookware? That's what I thought. :) So, head on over to Bloom to enter a giveaway for these beautiful Le Creuset baking dishes.  And have a great weekend!

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-34244201957129879002010-04-15T15:44:00.000-07:002010-04-15T15:52:05.664-07:00

I'm working my way into my thirties and am generally pretty content in this decade. But fashion is getting tricky for me. On the one hand, I can be a fun, creative girl who wants to express myself (even if just a little) through my clothes. On the other hand, I am a grown woman with 2 small children (who are usually wiping some kind of nasty substance on me) and I want to convey mature and

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-88241638502218848352010-04-13T20:37:00.000-07:002010-04-14T15:20:11.219-07:00

This is a random post about giving handmade gifts. A few of my girlfriends have gotten more into sewing in the last year or so and it is such fun to have partners in crime. This means we've all begun giving more handmade gifts. Yeah for handmade gifts! But lately I've heard some of my girlfriends saying things I used to, things like: It's just handmade. Don't look too closely! It's really

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-69588268986348114112010-04-12T07:12:00.000-07:002010-04-15T15:43:06.108-07:00

Added: I was finally able to get pictures of the top ON me...scroll all the way down to the bottom of the post to see them. I finished yet another top because I just can't seem to help myself. I used Simplicity 8523 (View B - sleeveless with rounded neckline) and this was by far my favorite top to make for the Pattern Challenge. The packaging illustrations aren't all that enticing (see the

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-72188909157345286172010-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:002010-04-10T19:20:36.216-07:00

For the record, I want a house full of kids. I want our little house just bursting at the seams with bunk beds and sports equipment. For whatever reason, I have always pictured 4 boys. I know this sounds crazy to some people but I'm halfway there already and my kids bring us and each other so much joy. This isn't to say that my husband pictures 4 boys since he also pictures mass chaos, grocery

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-67385491752653942122010-04-04T16:31:00.000-07:002010-04-04T17:38:19.668-07:00

If you're visiting from Meylah, thanks so much for stopping by! that's my oh-my-gosh-no-way! face You're not going to believe this, but someone actually wanted to interview me about my sewing. I know! It took me a good week to answer 6 simple questions because the English Lit major in me could not be satisfied and the creative bits of me were feeling way too self-conscious talking about myself

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-19236602376754290582010-04-02T06:47:00.000-07:002010-04-02T07:32:29.961-07:00

Oh, giraffes... I must confess that I have an odd new fascination: giraffes. Not the real thing, mind you. Just the printed on fabric variety. Notice the completely gratuitous shot of giraffes on fabric there? And while part of me (a big part of me) thinks that only very small children should actually wear clothes with giraffes printed on them, I had to have this jersey and I had to make a top

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-73963239773692653782010-04-01T13:10:00.000-07:002010-04-01T13:17:33.991-07:00

Yesterday we had a huge playdate at our house for moms and kids complete with treats, crafts, and an Easter egg hunt. It was a blast! I had big plans for decorating the house in a fun springy way...and it just didn't happen. The night before, I did make this little banner from scrapbook paper, binding scraps, my faithful Sharpie (one of my favorite crafty tools), and the sewing machine, of

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-25786420936132845312010-03-28T12:29:00.000-07:002010-03-28T12:49:52.816-07:00

the top on "Dolly" I finished up Simplicity 2593 for the Pattern Challenge and would overall recommend it as a very easy pattern to put together. The Cynthia Rowley patterns by Simplicity are usually super cute so you can't go wrong there. The only problem with this pattern was that...can you guess?...it was too big but I think I can make it work. And I will be quick to point out that I don't

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-44728384042395824032010-03-25T08:17:00.000-07:002010-03-25T08:17:17.437-07:00

Comment #10, Sarah Seitz, won the Simplicity 2646 top! Congratulations, Sarah!Thanks to everyone for joining in!(I have another top in the works...maybe it won't fit me either haha) Sarah's comment was: "Hey Kari! You did such a great job, the finished garment looks adorable! Believe it or not, I think it would fit me!! I'd love to be entered into the drawing! Can't wait to see what you

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-61863996702380095192010-03-24T08:26:00.000-07:002010-03-29T14:27:20.731-07:00

I'm out of my league with this little number, but sometimes you've just got to try something different... As part of my crafty disaster makeover, I wanted some new wall art (I'm getting closer and closer to finishing the space!). Working on a tiny little budget, I needed to get creative. So I gathered up a canvas I already had along with cardstock & scrapbook paper, played with tissue paper for

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-54247118916355624222010-03-23T15:42:00.000-07:002010-05-26T21:28:26.811-07:00

My husband's co-worker and his wife just bought a new house and we're super excited for them! My husband thought it would be fun to send them a card (even though they see each other at work all the time) so they could get fun mail at their new address. What a sweet idea. But could I just send a card? No, of course not. So I made a set of 8 coasters using Amy Butler's Midwestern Modern. And they

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-14554219747094655842010-03-21T14:59:00.000-07:002010-03-25T07:05:42.941-07:00

I just made up Simplicity 2646 (the longer sleeve version with tie belt). Or, as I like to call it, the cutest top I'll never wear. When all is said and done it's way too big for me. Background...I pick pattern sizes based on my bust measurement which usually works out well. I will generally have to take in the hips, raise the hem, or shorten the straps (coming in at only 5'2" if you recall...

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-46606769769834354632010-03-18T18:20:00.000-07:002010-03-20T10:20:33.250-07:00

I say "inspired" because it sounds so much better than "knock off"... Last weekend I got a little time to myself (read: I bolted from the house after a very long week) and headed to the mall. This is a treat I don't get very often and it was wonderful. Having a gift card for J.Crew, I headed in to look around. It shouldn't surprise me, but the prices always throw me for a loop. The styles I LOVE

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-72068671612385339972010-03-15T14:04:00.000-07:002010-03-15T14:05:06.303-07:00

  Lil Blue Boo posted the most adorable Mr. & Mrs. Roboto awhile back (seriously, how generous is that?) and I fell in love immediately. Then I waited and waited for the right project... And a First Birthday Boy t-shirt was my reward for all that waiting around! I appliqued Mr. Roboto on the front and a number one on the back for the birthday bash this past weekend. All the fabrics are from the

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-76199056985709160062010-03-10T07:18:00.000-08:002010-05-26T21:11:03.354-07:00

If you use this tutorial I'd love to see your creation! Feel free to post it to the Handmade Mommy Tutorials Flickr Pool. Last year my ever sweet husband gave me the best Mother's Day gift: a Sony Reader. If you love reading and don't have a digital reader yet, stay as far away from them as possible. You have been warned. Once you get hooked, you're done for. Case in point: me. I love the

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-82313699257184448342010-03-08T07:32:00.000-08:002010-03-08T13:12:45.630-08:00

I got to stay in bed until 6:40 this morning! This is reason to celebrate in our house full of early risers. So this is a good day. Hope you have something to celebrate this Monday too! This is a random little post about books and sewing, two of my very favorite things on the whole planet (no exaggeration). Friends and family know that I love books, especially old books. Every once in awhile a

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-76487041431602623692010-03-04T13:22:00.000-08:002010-03-04T15:10:44.615-08:00

I decided recently (coincidentally after loving Anna's craft room makeover...check it out if you haven't yet!) that it was time to overhaul my crafty/sewing space. It was a complete disaster. It can be really hard to feel inspired when you can't even find your scissors and everything is caving in on you... This is my incredibly messy "before" so you can be duly impressed when it's done. And a

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-77988679952544065912010-03-01T09:53:00.000-08:002010-03-04T15:54:28.117-08:00

We've got a baby explosion among our friends and I've been making lots of baby gifts lately. All my little handmade treats don't always make it on the blog because usually I run out of time to take pictures before heading to a baby shower or the post office. But these little sets got their photoshoot! Each set is going to a different friend, one for a baby boy and one for a baby girl. And I love

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-74815955246384746502010-02-24T08:55:00.000-08:002010-02-24T08:57:46.491-08:00

Just popping in to say thanks for hanging out with me. I've never even met most of you but it's nice to know that I'm part of a much larger community of crafty folks. When I get into a bit of a creative funk, it's always encouraging to have you all here reading my antics, commenting, and creating your own beautiful things for me to look at. If I could, I'd send each and every one of you a goody.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-80848536924216371522010-02-22T14:21:00.000-08:002010-03-05T16:35:31.339-08:00

Of all the ways to makeover an item of furniture, spray paint is my current favorite. If you've got so-so furniture taking up space in your house, some spray paint could help you fall in love with your rooms again. Seriously, it's well worth the few bucks and hours. At the end of the post, I've made a list of some helpful tips that I've learned (mostly the hard way) about using spray paint.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-43946187288612723882010-02-20T07:27:00.000-08:002010-02-21T07:13:55.168-08:00

 Dolly, Me, and the Dress I made a dress from a real pattern! I've started and scrapped lots of patterns in the last couple years (yes, I've balled up tissue paper patterns and cut pieces of fabric and just chucked it) but this is officially my first completed real pattern. Somehow tutorials, patterns in books, winging it and the like don't seem to be "real" patterns to me...totally illogical.

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-9940487472856642222010-02-19T13:36:00.000-08:002010-03-21T20:37:51.893-07:00

Like I mentioned earlier, I joined the Pattern Challenge over on See the Seitz (click on the button in the left sidebar for info). The idea of the challenge is to set goals for yourself and then blog about them culminating in pattern reviews upon completion. So here are my goals... 1. Make Burda 7661 in time for family pictures (which were today!) 2. Sew an every day summer dress by April...

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-5330936582628558242010-02-17T18:49:00.000-08:002010-02-18T07:08:58.016-08:00

You're probably tired of hearing about my adventures in laundry detergent making, but I've just got one more little thing to add. And then I'll shut up about it. Promise. If you can get your hands on Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and some Fels-Naptha, it is completely worth it. Before I was using Oxi-Clean and Ivory and it seemed to get our clothes clean, but over time I realized that it

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-68665468475638298562010-02-15T19:45:00.000-08:002010-02-15T19:45:10.645-08:00

So I just discovered the blog Come and See the Seitz (gotta love the name!) and entered in Sarah's $50 Allmodern.com giveaway. And I won! No way! It pretty much made my whole week and I went "shopping" this afternoon (and not just the window variety). But, even more fun is the Pattern Challenge Sarah is hosting (hence the new button on the left sidebar). If you've ever wanted to make clothes for

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-21947232445219426852010-02-14T17:47:00.000-08:002010-02-17T09:45:04.510-08:00

I feel guilty even posting this while the rest of the country is dealing with record breaking snow. But maybe it can make the rest of you feel a little warmer for a few minutes, even if it is vicariously fleeting. We live in San Diego and it is an amazing climate. I know I'm not telling you anything you don't know, but sometimes I have to remind myself why we pay more for housing, taxes,

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-37649920323642703202010-02-14T09:14:00.000-08:002010-02-14T17:18:34.437-08:00

  Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loves!I hope you have a restful Sunday full of snuggles and laughs. Here are little bits of lovey dovey goodness from around our house. Two dozen roses from my ever sweet husband...sigh.  The handmade card for Daddy... Duke, my first {oversized, hairy mutt} baby.I love his lap dog tendencies and big puppy dog eyes. And the fudge I conquered. That's right

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-29685653426413527912010-02-12T07:59:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:56:20.767-08:00

Thanks to everyone for joining in on the giveaway fun! Using random.org I chose winners and they are: Bundle A: Comment #6 HAbadie Bundle B: Comment #2 Lynne Bundle C: Comment #3 Eve Congratulations! If your email address is in your profile, I'll email you to get your mailing address. Otherwise, you can email me at kbiermann (at) gmail.com. My helpers packing up the fabric On their way to the

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-66269304570251745942010-02-10T13:25:00.000-08:002010-02-10T13:27:33.151-08:00

Don't worry, I have a good explanation for this nastiness. I have a wicked sweet tooth and I try to fight it pretty hard so I'm not 600 pounds at 5'2". But a girl's got to have some treats and I do like making treats. So about once a week, the boys and I settle in after naptime to make cookies, muffins, or some other kind of goodie. Yesterday I decided we would make fudge. I've never made real

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-12971132931835811462010-02-09T07:15:00.000-08:002010-02-09T07:15:58.458-08:00

Anna over at Noodlehead is hosting a giveaway for the awesome backpacks she made for the "Celebrate the Boy" month. Seriously, they are just too cute for words. Head on over to http://noodleheads.blogspot.com/2010/02/400-giveaway.html to enter. It closes tonight so move quick. :) Have a great day!

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353485974590974404.post-68588223959279182452010-02-08T07:00:00.000-08:002010-02-12T07:09:49.506-08:00

Good Morning & Happy Monday! I am up to knees in extra fabric (well maybe not literally...) and I am realizing that it is silly to keep these fabrics when I might use them some far off day. So I am giving some away in my first little giveaway for the little blog. Some are smaller pieces, some are full yardage, but they all have potential to make some really cute projects. I have been so inspired

Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05992950820970256748noreply@blogger.com27