twins? no

The first picture is my Sam as a baby and the second is Zach taken recently, it's insane how alike the two of them look.

a little swap perhaps?

Okay, I'm wanting to broaden my fabric stash. Right now all I mostly have is vintage/retro fat quarters. There's nothing wrong with all I have, it's just I would love to have some different kinds in there. Plus I have no clue what I could possibly do with all the vintage, I think I went a bit crazy in buying them. I have lots of florals and a lot of brown retros. Anyone out there interested in doing a little fabric swap? Or a big one? I am willing to part with a lot of my fat quarters, which really is all I have. I'm a fat quarter whore I guess. I really would love some more colorful pieces. Send me an email if you would like to do this: caseyrandom(at)gmail(dot)com

at a loss (help!)

Alright, I am at a complete loss lately. I have been attempting to get Lizzy potty trained for the last couple months and we have gotten nowhere. We've done the rewards thing, the potty dance thing, I have bribed her 'til I was blue in the face and still we are not potty trained. She tells me many times a day that she has to go potty and we will sit on the potty but she will not do anything. As soon as she has her pull ups back on she pees in them. I even have tried having her wear the real panties, she cries and freaks out when she pees in them but she continues doing it even though she hates it. I have to say I'm a bit tired of cleaning the floors twenty times a day. Not sure what to do now, should I just keep letting her go the way she is hoping one day she'll decide to pee in the potty? I am lost.

On another note, please go over to Rachel's to learn more about her Mountains Baby Blankets project. I have the button posted over on the left side which will take you there also. I have a lot of flannel here that I bought some time ago, I'm planning to sew up some receiving blankets tonight to help out. I also have some squares of fabric cut up that I've done nothing with, so maybe if I feel confident enough I'll sew them together for a quilt. But, receiving blankets are really an easy thing to make so I'll make as many as I can with the flannel I have. Even if you not a big sewer you can make receiving blankets, they are really that easy. So, go over to see if you can help out too.

another good mail day

Postman buzzed my place again today, I received my packaged from my fat quarter swap partner Michelle!


Look at the goodies I got, now I just need to figure out what do with it. Such pretty fabrics! Ooh and chocolate too, yummy. Thanks Michelle!

In my other box came this:


I have been wanting this book for some time now! Finally my book club got my order right and sent it to me. I can't wait to read through it.

on the mend

I think I'm almost over this flu, my dizziness has finally gone away so the rest of it isn't really a big deal. I started up a cross-stitch as soon as the dizziness subsided, I missed cross stitching. Anyway, my plan this week was to participate in Erin's yellow week but my camera isn't letting me upload anything from my camera. Oh well, it's been hard finding yellow around my house anyway. I really need to color up my place I think, I never realized it was colorless until I started really searching.

Hopefully my camera will start working soon so I can show off the stitching I started, it's quite pretty, I think. Now I must get back to drinking my huge amounts of water.

buy for a good cause

If you're going to buy something, why not buy something with proceeds going to a great cause? Click the button above and see some Etsy items being sold for a great cause. If you have never heard of Cora Paige, go to her site to find out. It's awful when someone so young is taken too soon. Whenever I hear about these things I feel so grateful for the good fortune I've had with my family. My heart goes out to everyone out there dealing with tragedies in their families.

surprise in the mail!

The UPS man came to my door today and I had no clue why he was coming. I was confused when I got the package but super excited when I opened it!


(pic from Moda Home Mom. too lazy to take my own today)

It's the Quilted Nap Sack I won from Moda Home Mom, I love it! It's so awesome, the one I make will never be as cute though. It came at a really good time too, the girls are off to spend the weekend with my parents. I think Sam will be the one getting to use it since Lizzy likes to sleep in the same bed with my parents.

I decided to make a trip to the doctor today because I've been dizzy almost all week, turns out I have the flu. Lucky me, right? So, I guess I won't be doing any sewing this weekend either.

help some people in need

There have been so many great ways to help the people affected by the Victorian Bush fires popping all over blogland. There are so many great, generous people out there. I'll post some links to places I know of trying to help out, I probably won't get them all so if you know of anymore please let me know!

You can of course donate directly to the Red Cross, always a really great option!

You can bid on some great things over at Handmade Help, all of the proceeds going to the Bushfire cause. More auctions over at Melly & Me

CurlyPops is donating 50% of her proceeds, as is The Princess & The Monkey, Missie Krissie, Hokey. You can check out Etsy because I am sure there are more shops helping out.

Books can be donated over here via Juddie.

The Toy Society is collecting handmade toys.

Handmade clothes are being collected over at Grandy and Baa.

fun links!

Have a look at what I won! I've had a lucky week, I'm not usually a winner in giveaways so I'm super excited to have won two! Luckily there are tutorials so I can make an extra of each so I don't have major fights over here. Thank you ladies for the awesome giveaways!

My bookmark list seems to be overflowing lately, so I'll share a few links with you all. You will probably see these make it to my to-craft list soon.

Ruched Pillow
Mini Cherry Cheesecakes (being made for my mom's birthday this month)
Folding Tray
Thread Holder
Floss Ring Tag
No Sew Tent
Headbands
Mini Purse
Valentine Card Holder
Shopping Bags
Star Pillow
Silhouette Plaque
Purse Organizer (making for my sister's birthday this week)

Some links to free downloads.
Happy Birthday Tags - from inchmark
lots of free downloads!
Valentine Wheel - from Martha Stewart
Party Invitations
Love is All You Need Valentine cards - from Bunnycakes
Sweet Hearts Valentine cards - from Bunnycakes (using these!)
Zebra Valentine cards - from Bunnycakes
super cute Valentines - from Secret Agent Josephine

productivity, finally

I spent a little time sewing yesterday, I hope to do a lot more today though. I've been cutting fabric up like crazy. First off I made some t-shirts for the girls for Valentine's Day, I got the idea from here, mine didn't turn out half as good but they will do I'm sure. I also decided to add a stitched heart to mine, that's my favorite part of the shirts.




Also, to help out with the disaster that is my girls bedroom, I quickly sewed up these toy hammocks to hold their stuffed animals, I attached one to each bed. They were super easy to make, I'm thinking of making another for Zach's crib. Not in pink though, obviously.

giveaways

There are a lot of giveaways going on today! Go over to Katy's site to see all the blogs participating. I wanted to get in on it too but I have so much on my plate right now but as soon as I finish with all of that, I'll think up a giveaway.

suggestions?

I'm trying to figure out what I could possibly make for my sister before February 11th, her birthday. It needs to be something I can make from fat quarters, since that really seems to be the only kind of fabrics I have around here. Anyone have any suggestions on what to make? I was thinking of making a purse organizer but I have no clue how to do it! What does a 20 year old like? I know it's not much younger than me, it feels way younger, she still parties and stays out all night!

got an extra vacuum?

I am sweating and so tired, just from vacuuming my apartment. I hate my vacuum, I really, really do. But, I'm not buying another vacuum until I can buy one of those allergy ones, they're expense so I'm not sure when that will happen. Maybe I should put aside a money jar just for it. Anyone want to donate a vacuum in working condition before I get a new one? I seriously want to throw mine out, the suction is almost completely gone so I going over the same place a million times.

OK, enough of my vacuum rant. I don't have much to post at the moment, it's been a lazy week filled with whiny, clingy little girls. They've been sick and feverish for most of the weekend, so sleep is rare. I've had to sleep in Lizzy's bed for the last couple nights because she hasn't been able to sleep at all without being cuddled. Why is her bed more comfortable than mine? That's not right, is it?

This post is short but has taken me a long time to type out, Lizzy is freaking out wanting me to cuddle her. So, I must go sweat this out with her.