Cleaning House... or rather, Cleaning Blog

I suppose if I'm going to spend the day sprucing up my blog, I should at least write a blog post too! :) Come check it out! I made new pattern icons, a new blog button, rearranged a few things, I have a new header! (it's so bright compared to what it was before!) I even had the Mr. take a picture of me to replace my old one. It is definitely getting colorful around here. I still have some cleaning, deleting, and figure out to do, so bear with me while it comes along. :) I would love to rework all my pages as well, (like my tutorial pages, and project lists, etc.) but we'll see how that goes. I've spent long enough just on the main page that now I need to get back to other things. Oh life, why do you fly by so quickly?!

(here's a peek of a few things in case you are reading from a feed reader, or on your phone, or somehow where you don't see the entire site. I know I read blogs a lot like that lately.)

new blog button

new tutorial and pattern buttons

So what do you think? Any suggestions before I finish up? Do you hate the new layout? Since you are, after all, the ones who read my blog. :) THANK YOU by the way! Is it too cramped with the icons on the left? I think I'll try them at least for a while. I'm kind of excited about how they turned out.


which photo gets your vote? On IG almost everyone has voted for the top, but I do like them both I think.

Can I ask you a question? I need some help. What do yo do for wrinkles?? I know it doesn't look like I have any in the pictures (because I Photoshopped them out. ha!) But really, what do you use? How do you prevent them? or get rid of them? It's only been recently that I've really started noticing them, but I have crazy crows feet, and also in my cheeks when I smile. The bags under my eyes I'm sure come with the territory of a new baby, but I'm only 31. I don't want to be wrinkles yet! I'd love some advice or tips! Maybe I should look on Pinterest. lol.


So anyway,  besides working on my blog, I've been doing some fun sewing projects that I'm REALLY excited about!

Of course my project for the Kate Spain blog hop... that you'll have to wait for. But here's a peek.

I don't know why my IG photos are always so dark on the computer. They seem to always look better on my phone. Has anyone else noticed that?

And this one. I want to finish it up for the Mini Quilt Challenge over at Ellison Lane Quilts. Which is next week I think? I better hurry! :)

What have you been working on lately? Enjoying your summer? I really have been wanting to get back to the good ol' blog. So hopefully I can make some more time for it soon.  I miss you all! :)

I've been enjoying this guy, and apparently so has the Mr. :)

(I'm so lazy. I'm sharing a picture I took with my phone of a picture that is on my computer. lol. By the way, the new Flickr is really driving me crazy! I don't like it. Everything is too big, and too slow, and too dark... I wish it was customizable so I could change it back.) :)
But isn't this picture so cute?! I love these guys!

Today is The Day...

That I celebrate the 2 year anniversary of my first blog post!! It is also still my most popular blog post, according to google analytics. Go figure. I came in with a bang and just went down hill I guess. lol. ;) I am SO super excited that my blog is where it is at today!! And I'm so excited to celebrate it with you!

Today is also the day of interruptions. Boy is that ever an understatement. But it is the best day for it, as well as the best interruptions ever! My oldest was so happy to have me read to him in German today! Yay! What could be better than that?! Rumpelstiltskin was one that we read today and he loved every second of it! We've also done a ton of puzzles and games today. More than usual for sure. It's been so much fun! Maybe I should try working on a big project every day just so they will want to play with me so much every day! :)

Anyway, my point is that I am working on my post for the day, but it is taking a LONG time. It will also include the linky for the day, which is way fun! as well as a super sweet giveaway (at least I'm excited about it. Ok, I'm actually still deciding on what it will be, but it will be good.)

So here is my quick intermission telling you that you need to check back later so you can celebrate with me! I'm sorry that I can't tell you when it will start. It's just like me to be late to my own party. :D cheese!!! Just know it's coming. :)

Until then, Happy Thursday!! :)

Did you know???

If you linked your blogger account to Google+ that you are probably a no-reply blogger and didn't even know it?! Yep! I found out last week that I was. I searched the web universe as well as google+ to see how to change that, but alas, there was no luck. The only instructions I could find to become a reply-blogger again was to unlink my Google+ account. And that's what I did.

I have noticed in the last few weeks that some other bloggers have also become no-reply bloggers, of whom I know were not so earlier. You may want to check it out! I think part of the reason why I didn't know is because the bloggers I comment on, and who have replied back to me have my email address anyway, so I have no idea when this change took place. If it's something recent that google did, or if it happened right when I linked my profile.

If you want to comment on my post, I would be more than happy to let you know if you are or aren't. If you don't hear back from me in email, check back here and I'll tell you in the comments. If I have your email anyway, then I'll go ahead and email you and confirm either way. It's kind of annoying to just find out now. To think of all those awesome giveaways I've entered. :( boohoo. ;) lol.

I just wanted to give you the heads up in case you are concerned about that. A HUGE thanks to Mike for letting me know!


In other news, I officially have the worst phone camera ever. Everyone has such beautiful pictures on Instagram, and mine are poop. Ok, not always, but they are not as nice as I wish they were. Oh well. Continuing with my potty-mouth pictures. ;)

see what I mean?! lol. talking about the quality, not the fabrics.

I decided to start something new today. It was one of those days. One of those days that I need some beautiful Lou Lou Thi to cheer me up. This has been sitting in my stash for a while, and I think I have the perfect pattern to use this in. If it doesn't turn out, I'll just close my eyes and pretend that it looks like Denise's. She's going to have to wash that quilt ever day with how much I'm drooling over it. ;) Her quilt is what made me finally decide that I love this fabric line. It's perfect! I'm also excited because it's been getting rather chilly here. A strange phenomenon for me being from the high desert mountains of Utah, and that it's still the middle of August. But it's nice because it makes me want to snuggle under a soft beautiful quilt, and I have yet to finish a snuggle quilt for myself. This will be my end of summer/fall treat. ;)


I have some very sad news. But I'm not ready to share that yet. Stay tuned, and perhaps be ready to comment. But you'll have to wait. I'm still crying and dreaming and wishing, and not ready to let go yet.


I did finish the fasted quilt top ever!

 
It's not actually sewn together in this photo, but it is sewn together now.

These blocks were donated to me by Melinda. They are beautiful! I think I'm going to put a large sashing around these, and then find a fun way to quilt it. This is for Quilting for a Cause and 100 Quilts for Kids. I keep getting more blocks in the mail and it's awesome! I've got some creative ideas going around in my head for what I want to do with them all. But I need more solid fabric... or bigger cuts that coordinate. Anyone want to donate some fabric?! :) I can tell you what colors I need. :) heehee.


I've also done some clean up on the home front. Ok, blog front. I put all my buttons on a new button page. You can find the link on the top of my page with all the tabs. My computer has been so SLOW lately, and then after I started putting that page together I realized that it's Safari that is slowing my computer down so bad. Now that I'm in Firefox, it's as fast as a dream. But I don't love firefox on the Mac. Oh well. ... Anyway, the page is up, and there's a bit less on my sidebar. I still need to figure out what to do with some of the stuff on the bottom, and some of it will be changing soon anyway...

I also cleaned out my email inbox finally! I'd say going from 2,600+ emails to 776 is quite an accomplishment. lol. I blame it on moving and no internet. ;) If you are waiting for a response from a blog comment, I'm sorry but I don't think it will come. Please leave another comment... I am starting over and hoping to do better. All the comments in my inbox were just too overwhelming to feel like I could ever respond to them. Plus I don't know if that would be weird to get a "thanks" from a comment you left three months ago.  lol. :)


Want to know what you can look forward to this week... a very cool project that I am SO excited for. I am dying to share it with you and really hope you'll like it. It will also include a bit of a tutorial, so stay tuned, that is on Thursday. I also have a bit of a modification to make to the linky party, so I hope it will be a little more inviting for people to join in on, and I think it will be a little more fun as well. Thursday is going to be a busy day around here! I haven't forgotten other projects and such either, it's just bee busy outside of my blogging/sewing universe as well. Sorry about any delays in things you are expecting/waiting for... but that's just how it goes sometimes. ;)

Anyway, my one time only Monday Update is now over. lol. :) 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

A New Swap??? the RATZ Swap

Check this out, straight from the group's main page:


"About Rapid and Tiny Zakka swap, the RATZ Swap

A group committed to Rapid and Tiny Swaps of a Zakka nature.
We will be hosting a number of swaps with a quick turnaround. The swaps will all be for small items, ie. inchies, key fobs, needlebooks, scissor holders, etc.

"Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and appearance. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin, but it can also be Japanese goods, mainly from the fifties, sixties, and seventies. In Japan there are also so-called Asian zakka stores; that usually refers to Southeast Asia. The interest in Nordic design or Scandinavian design, both contemporary and past, is also part of this zakka movement. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft.

"Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". The zakka boom could be recognized as merely another in a series of consumer fads, but it also touches issues of self-expression and spirituality. "Cute, corny and kitschy is not enough. To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext.""

How is that for a swap??? I guess it's mainly for a little something for in between the DQS rounds. I'm not admitting to anything, but if you want to check it out some more, you can get there by clicking on this link: Rapid and Tiny Zakka swap, the RATZ Swap.

p.s. You all are AWESOME!!! Can you believe that 38 of you have offered to test patterns for me???!! I thought maybe I'd get 3 or 4. You guys ROCK! I better get moving so I can take advantage of your generosity! Though I really don't know if I'll actually be able to use all of you. So if I don't contact you, just know that I am so forever grateful for your willingness! Thanks!!! :D


and... if you're waiting for part 3 of the Paper Piecing Series, I decided to make a little video. I was about 3/4 the way finished with it and the wee ones came home crying and upset and hungry, so the last segment still needs to be made. Plus some editing. I'm hoping to finish it up tonight, but it might have to wait until tomorrow. So just know it's coming! I'll throw in another laffy taffy joke to make it worth the wait! ;) lol.

Mail Update

I interrupt my irregular blogging schedule for a quick mail update.

If you are expecting mail from me and have not received it yet, don't fret. It is on it's way. I mailed an arm full of packages last week and a number of them were returned to me with insufficient postage. I'm SO sorry!!

I usually always go to the post office after hours (like at 10 pm) because that is about the only time I can make it without bringing my children with me. (been there, done that, no thank you! lol) Anyway, I use the automated teller and it's pretty great! I mail packages all the time, but sometimes the drop door for packages is locked and I can't put them in. When I mailed my packages the other day the door was locked, and since they were all fairly small I just put them all in the large envelope slot. oops. I guess they didn't like that! lol. Anyway, they are now on their way. again. And I just wanted to let you know. If you still don't receive them, let me know... they better not get lost now.


*** usually my hubby will watch movies or old tv shows while I sew at night. Lately it's been The Wonder Years! (awesome) and Eerie Indiana. ? it's kind of funny. The other night Eerie Indiana was about when he turned his watch back so he could have his daylights saving hour and instead got stuck in a weird space time continuum. After I watched it, and was thinking about my mail situation, I am kind of feeling the same way... we still haven't gotten used to daylights savings around here. The boys go to bed at 9-10, we have dinner at like 7 or 8pm, we have breakfast at like 9 am. Anyway, I guess if anything were to blame for the mail problems, it would be this. lol. ;) Just wanted to share my little hypothesis. lol.

Google Reader and a Giveaway coming soon

Yes, I am still planning on posting the giveaway today. But let's face it, I'm tired. The last two days my little girl has decided to have weird napping times, which means she is not napping when the boys are and even though I don't nap all the time anyway, it's been wearing me out and I am wishing I could nap! ;)

Plus I'm still waiting to hear back from one person. But if I don't hear back from them, I'll just go ahead and post it anyway. :)

*****

I do have a question for you: Do you use Google Reader? or something similar? How do you do it? Do you have a system? Do you have lots of blogs in there? How do you keep up with them, or at least keep them organized to read the ones you want to all the time without getting overwhelmed?

I have finally jumped on the band wagon and am trying to use it on my phone - which actually works super great. BUT a few years ago I started following every blog that had something good on it... and now I have so many blogs in my reader that it's a mess. I have made a few folders to try to organize my blogs so I don't get caught in a mess of blogs I hardly ever read, but I still miss a lot of stuff, or forget which new blogs I want to start reading regularly. Anyway, I don't know if that makes sense, and if it doesn't, then you understand completely how I feel! ;) lol.

To simplify my jumbled mess, my question is, what is your system for keeping up with your favorite blogs? And do you always have to click to the actual blog to leave a comment? or is there a trick that I'm not aware of? Thanks for your help!! :D


I was going to find something funny, but I think this is fitting for today.

Source: pinterest.com via Diane on Pinterest

if only. ;)

I can breathe again!

I have a love-hate relationship with deadlines. I love them because they force me to finish things when I am being lazy, but I hate them because where there are too many at once I feel like I am suffocating! a realization that I didn't notice until yesterday...

I have had so much going on recently, and yesterday was my first day of freedom!!! No more deadlines (at least not for a while). And I just felt like a huge weight was lifted from me. I can breathe again! Not that I feel like crafting/sewing is a burden, but maybe you know what I mean. I also feel a huge desire to finish up everything that's been on the sidelines... now that I don't HAVE to do anything, I WANT to do everything. :)

So prepare for many a posts coming up of everything I have finally finished! :)  ... and hopefully there will be even more that I finish up by then. (or at least an update on things that have been forgotten. bottled rainbow? Kaleidoscopes? coin quilts? crossing my fingers!) :)

a sneak peek...