A Good Cause

Ashley over at http://www.lilblueboo.blogspot.com/ is auctioning off one of her dresses. It is to help her friend's daughter, who is having open brain surgery. Please go to her blog and show your support.

Thanks Rhiannon

Simple art display

I can never find enough places to display my kids art work. I love using it in projects around my home. My son recently brought home a couple on new pieces from school. I was not ready to take down what I had already displayed around the house, so I had to find another solution.

We live in the country, so most of our windows do not have curtains. When I was cleaning my kitchen windows last Sunday, it hit me. I grabbed a couple of the thingies (technical term) that you use on the back of a picture frame to attach wire and some string from the craft room.

Tadaa!!! Now I get to look at great works of art every time I do the dishes. Oh yeah I don't do the dishes.

Happy Creating
Rhiannon

Luck O' the... French?

O.K. so doesn't every mom stay up all hours of the night making clothes for her child to wear the next day. Of course I was up late last night making Maria a dress to wear to Miss Jenny's today.

I found this shirt with a cute little shamrock and had to use it. The only problem is the other shirt I liked said Paris across the front. I guess the dress will do double duty come Bastille Day.
Once again this is one of my favorite patterns by one of my favorite blogger's.

I love the pink buttons I put on this sleeve. They are a fun pop of color.

Now, I have to throw in a couple of fun pics. We are finally having some spring like weather, which means what? Spring like pictures of course!! I even got to go for a run -yeah. It feels good to stretch out these rusty legs.

Maria enjoying some tunes while the boys play some football. Even our pooch, Gordy, got in on the outdoor fun.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Rhiannon

Birthday present...check!

Here it is the other half of Corbyn's birthday present. I used one of my favorite blogger's patterns. I have purchased almost all of Ashley's patterns and enjoyed making every single one. The instructions are so easy to follow, which is probably why I like them so much.

I love the way the hood turned out. I think the stripes are going to look too cute around his face. I hope to get some pics of the little guy in his new shirt.

I try not to let my kiddos eat too much candy. So when holidays come around, the candy usually gets put in a bag in the pantry and forgotten about until the next holiday. Sorry Grandma!! During my kitchen cleaning on Sunday my children took an unsupervised opportunity to raid the candy bag. Yes, those are pink heart suckers from valentines day.

Rhiannon

Kicking it up a notch?

Aww. Rhiannon you are too sweet in that last post! We must be having a lovefest vibe going because I've been thinking about my post all week and YOU are my inspiration for it. Here goes...

Well, it was bound to happen. I just didn't think it would be so soon. After only 5 posts it is very clear who the better photographer around these parts is. And her name doesn't start with an "M"! Actually I've known this for a while and have been ok with it. See, I have a pretty fancy schmancy camera, for me anyways, but I haven't taken the time to actually learn how to use it. I did poke around the manual a bit after I bought it and fooled around with the Aperture setting once but I'm kinda freaked out by it all. So I'm usually shooting in Program mode or *gasp* one of the pre-set function settings. Basically my DSLR is parading around like a normal, everyday "point-and-shoot" camera. I would do better to take a class and have someone teach me basic photography skills than sit around reading the manual. Frankly, I don't have the time or the discipline to learn it on my own. BUT when Rhiannon first mentioned she wanted to start a blog together I knew that she would be just the motivation I needed to improve my photography skills. She has natural skill in this department and a great eye and style for some pretty neat shots. Last year she told me about a site she likes to read that may be helpful for me called Digital Photography School. It has forums, photography challenges and a newsletter with useful tips, product reveiws and so on. A couple days ago one of the contributors reviewed a product that caught my eye called Professor Kobre's Lightscoop. This seemed like something right up my alley. It's a little doohickie you can put on your camera that bounces the light from the flash all over the room and makes your pictures look tons better without any real effort from you, the photographer. I love it! What I don't love about it is, ahem, paying for it. It doesn't look that expensive but it also looks simple enough to copy.

After a short Google search I came across a few templates and decided to drag myself to Michael's for some supplies:1. A 20x30 piece of black press board (I think this is press board. It was with the poster board but it is quite a bit thicker).
2. Foil cardstock.
3. An Exacto knife.
4. A glue stick.

The template I found is from this post on Flickr. I have a Nikon and my flash was slightly different sized so after I cut out the template from the copy paper I made adjustments before I cut out the press board.

This is how it turned out:

And here are some shots.

Without my "lightscoop":


And with it:


Not too shabby. I think I may still make a couple adjustments to my template and make another one. I certainly have enough supplies to make at least a dozen more! The foil packet has some copper colored sheets in it, too, that I may try in place of the silver color to copy the Warming Lightscoop. Oooohhh, getting fancy! So, for less than $12 I can make two (or more) versions of a lightscoop which retails for around $35.

Am I kicking my photography up a notch? Well, that may take a while to decide but I sure am liking my new homemade gadget. :)

Also, in case you're wondering why on Earth I took pictures of that hideous green chair with the stains all over it, it is next on my project list. Hopefully the next time you see this guy, he won't be green!

Happy Weekend.
~Megan

Where it all began

Ok, I have to show you my first official sewing project. I made this dress for Maria while on vacation at, you'll never guess, Megan's. We spent our spring break with her in Georgia last year. I would have to say that is where my love for sewing began. I owe it all to you, Megan.I love the little girls on this fabric. I know it is hard to see them in this picture. Maybe I will pull the dress out and take some better pics. I think that Maria will be able to wear it again this summer.

Here we are reading some craft blog, I'm sure. Notice Megan's cute shirt, she made it!! I also love how she has accessorised it with a measuring tape.
Happy sewing.
Rhiannon

A boy and a bag

This little guy belongs to one of my best friends and he is turning 1 this weekend. I am actually ahead of the game and have finished one of his birthday presents, this adorable bag.

I used Dana's Hobo bag tutorial here. I decided to use a tshirt for the bag and was able to use some of the existing seems.(score-the less sewing the better) I plan on filling it with other projects from her Celebrate the Boy month. If you have a boy, you definitely need to check it out. If you don't have a boy, you still need to check it out.

Happy Sewing

Rhainnon