The majority of this weekend has been spent tending to sick children, meaning I have been up until the wee morning hours and not geting much, if any sleep. They seem to be on the mend now though, and I can only hope we are done with all of the throwing up and stuff. To give you an idea, I did 8 loads of laundry yesterday, 4 of them after midnight, and I still have two more waiting for me since there was more bedding and clothing caught in the middle of the upchuck crossfire. Ugh! Suffice it to say, I did not get far with any of my planned projects for this weekend, but I’m more than thankful I’m ‘bug free’ myself, as I prefer to tend to the sick and not be one of them. I did manage to work on a silky quilt a little bit the other day, cutting out the batting for both pieces of silk and basting them to each piece so that I can quilt them when I have some time.

Also, Korby and I are currently drooling over our recent discovery of this European pattern company ’Farbenmix’, and we’re dying to try them out. The patterns are done in a Euro style where you get all sizes from toddler to almost teen in one pattern, but you trace them out yourself onto paper, so you will have every size needed as your child grows, and only one pattern to buy. (Here is an interview with the company creator Sabine Pollehn.)

I am IN LOVE with too many of their patterns to even begin listing them all here, but I can hardly wait to get my hands on even one of them, and have already found a place that sells oversized pieces of carbon paper just for pattern tracing. All I have to do now is find the time to actually get to do any of this, which I already know is going to be the most difficult part in all of this. That and making sure no one else gets this yucky bug that has made such an unwelcome stop at our house. I’m already over using the Chlorox spray and Lysol, hoping it will be enough to stop the spread. One can hope, right?

   My blog was just added to the ‘Big List Of Sewing Blogs’ today (yay)! The site is comprised of a list of blogs and sites that have a large, if not total focus on sewing and such. It’s been a favorite place of mine to stop by most days as there are so many different places to check out on there, and I am just so excited to be included on the list too. (Also, my former domain name suchafun.com is currently connected to a re-direct page so that anyone that types in my former website address will know where the site has moved to. As soon as the old domain name expires though, the re-direct page will be gone, so you may want to update your links with my new address when you get a chance, as it expires very soon.)

   Well, after a ton of hard work (all on my amazing husband’s part) my blog has moved, and as you can see, given a new look as well. I still have a few things I want to change here and there, but overall it’s fine so I’m going with it. The last few weeks have been more than insane with all of the changes and trying to export all of the previous posts over to here, but everything is now working perfectly and for this I am more than thankful. In the midst of all of the chaos I did manage to finish sewing a blanket for Haven last week, thrilling her to no end. Being pressed for time, I just used two twin sized bedsheets, one for the top and one for the backing, tied it all with size 10 crochet thread to secure the batting in the middle, and sewed the the binding on to finish it off.

As for the other two projects on my sewing table, cut out and ready to be sewn, and supposed to be done by today for a baby shower? Well they’re both still sitting there, unfinished and causing me all sorts of guilt and stress. I’m hoping for a few minutes to work on them tonight if I can swing it, but it’s not looking too good so far. As of late, Korby and I are avidly on the hunt for this mermaid fabric in a cotton print

that so far has elluded us locally. This means that I’m going to be phoning every store in the state, since the price for it on ebay seems to be skyrocketing with every minute. Not much of a shock with such cute fabric like this. And with the new patterns I just bought online, I am going to need some more fabric to work with. And yes, I really do mean need! I also bought a new plant the other day since the one in the living room has given up and died after weeks of turning all sorts of sickly shades of brown. I bought 6 plants last year and so far I have killed only 2 of them, 1 is slightly maimed and on the fence as to whether or not it wants to live, and 3 of them have actually managed to thrive under my not so amazing care. And no, my inablility to keep anything green alive in my house does in no way reflect upon my mothering skills….although I did forget to feed my children lunch the other day so maybe I’m just in denial.

I cut both dresses out Friday afternoon, and started in to sew the first one that night, picking it back up again to complete the dress Saturday afternoon. I then began to sew the second dress that night, finishing it at 1:30am in the morning, just in time for Easter Sunday. They were so excited to wear their new dresses to church, with matching hairbows to complete their outfits (is it just me or do the bobbed hair with bows remind you of ‘Madeline’?).   The only changes I made were to lengthen both dresses so that the hem came to just below the knee, and I added a wide satin ribbon at the waist to bring out the blue in the fabric and break up the busy print. I love this dress pattern and will definitely be using it again, thanks Korby! And I only have pictures of two of my little cuties since the rest of my children refused to let me take their picture. I even tried bribery, but they would have none of it. I think they’re on to me.

Anytime I open the fridge door, Finley crawls as fast as he can, trying to get there before I can close it. If he manages to get inside, he loves to stand there playing, and generally just being in the fridge. What a little goof.

I also got the stuff to make the bunny car racers (copier!), but I used tiny chocolate cookies for the wheels instead fo lifesavers, and we ripped the bottom half of the bodies off the bunny peeps to make them stick to the swiss cake roll better, otherwise they kept falling off. I decided a brief candy reprieve was in order for some Easter fun. Hey, I’m only a nutrition nazi 98% of the time. They all had fun making each of their bunny racers their own, with some even crafting a hit and run bunny peep accident victim to go along with their vehicle. I’m just thankful we only had pink frosting, and not the red, otherwise it would have been a bunny peep massacre.

And lastly, I had to showcase Haven’s latest outift of choice:

Haven loves to spend her time rummaging through all of her drawers and closet, putting together an outfit that pleases her girly senses. I happen to like her bold clothing choices when she gets an ensemble together, but I try to make sure her school attire manages to show that there is a parent in her home that is present, and paying attention to her each day before she heads out the door. We try to keep it toned down for school, but at home, the sky is the limit.

Reading Korby’s post about the two house fires starting from electrical problems prompted me to write this post. We just had an electrician come and do an inspection on the wiring and electrical work in our home on Monday. We had an inspection several months ago when we were under contract, where two irregularities came up that didn’t seem too pressing, or so we were told, and after putting it off for far too long, we finally made the appointment with a reputable company from the next town over, down south. As it turned out, it was more than pressing, it was imperative. I was shocked to find out that in actuality, we had a very serious problem, one that could have been deadly even. There was some very bad wiring, done by a previous owner more than likely, that was incorrect and done in such a way that it was sparking at random times, unbeknownst to us, and instantly caught fire when the electrician tried to move it as he was fixing this very problem. I am sick to think we have been living here for 5 years, with a ticking time bomb we knew nothing about. The issue is completely resolved now, we are up to code, but I still feel sick at the thought that we could have had a fire in our home at any time, even as we slept, it’s too much to even go into, I wish we had done this sooner. And our total cost for the visit and repair? Only $88…the best money I ever spent. Peace of mind for our family, and also for the family that will someday buy our home. (Please note, I have no desire to scare anyone with this information, my electrical issues in no way mean that your home will have the same, I intend no harm and have no desire to plant crazed fear into anyone else, this I can promise.)

E.S.P. [e(xtra)s(ensory) p(erception)] Communication or perception by means other than the physical senses.

E.F.P [e(xtra) f(abric) p(erception)]  Communication or perception about fabric by means other than the physical senses.

Unbeknownst to either of us, Korby and I both bought this same fabric on the same day, but in different stores and in different cities. We were both drawn to the chocolate brown background (and yes, I’m sure we both used the word chocolate!)  with all of the beautiful colors scattered across, and we each bought it intending to make dresses for our daughter(s). As for the dress pattern, I have no pretenses, I blatantly copied Korby and purposely bought what I hoped was the same pattern (it was)  she had used for Estee’s dress. What can I say Korby, I was inspired!

And when talking to Mel the other day, she mentioned we need to have that fabric swap soon as she is starting to exceed the limit of her nooks and crannies to stash her fabric throughout her house, along with several totes full of uncut yardage taking up more space as well. I have this same problem, or at least I did before I had to box it all up and stow it in storage. Nowadays, I no longer have fabric squirreled away, always at the ready for any of my sewing needs, it’s frustrating knowing I do have it, just not here, or anywhere that I can even get to it, not without a lot of climbing and digging through box after box in a dusty storage shed, hoping I stumble across the right one. I am more than ready to sell this house so that we can move into a new home (with a room just for my sewing….pretty please?).  I didn’t realize just how often I went to my stash for fabric until I no longer had that option. Hmmm, do you think a cherry on top would speed this selling process up?

   I happened upon the ’Fiskars Scissor Sharpener’ the other day, and being in desperate need of sharper scissors, I bought it. At home, armed with my dullest and most frustrating pair, I gave it several pulls over the ceramic bars as instructed with my scissors, and then began to cut fabric, with a new life and as clean and sharp as when I first bought them! So of course I had to go around the house and sharpen every pair I came across, just to make sure I am ready for any cutting emergency that should come my way. I paid about $7 for it, which for me was a bargain since it has given new and extended life to the bazillion scissors I have squirreled away throughout my house and sewing area. All of this just in time for me to get my late self in gear and start cutting out the Easter dresses for the girls. That is if I can just remember to measure each of them so I get the sizing right. And if I can just keep myself on track and use the fabric I bought with the intention for these very same dresses, and not run out and buy more yardage of a new print, just becasue I get a new idea for a different dress at the very last possible minute. What can I say, it happens.

On Friday, Craig and I took H and G to see  ‘Disney Princess Wishes on Ice’. I made skirts for the girls instead of full on princess dresses so they could wear their outfits again after their big day. They both loved the idea of a princess twirly skirt more than a dress, picking out their own fabric themselves, making their skirts even more fun for them once I finished sewing them. Almost every little girl there was dressed in some sort of princess attire, with some as casual as Disney princess t-shirts and some jeans, while others were swathed in satin and chiffon dresses matching their favorite princess. It was fun to see both ends of the spectrum, with my two girls falling somewhere right in the middle of it all.

   I made them each a purse to match their skirts, and placed a mini princess doll into each of them (Ariel for G and Snow White for H),  which served as entertainment on the long drive there and back. Once we arrived in SLC, we parked and took Trax to the E. S. Center, and got to our seats just as Aladdin and Jasmine took the ice. G was just waiting for Ariel, she’s her absolute favorite, so once she came onto the ice, G was beside herself with excitement, dancing, and clapping like crazy with each song, even calling out to Ariel several times, she could not contain her little self, it was so cute! H was far more composed, but just as excited to see each princess and all of the songs and ice skating. She was especially thrilled to see Tinkerbell as she skated in between every sequence, and then was featured at the very end.

Ariel seemed to be the biggest feature, with the most singing, acrobatics, characters, and ice time. The others were quite fun, but Mulan was a total and complete disapointment, with an unknown song, totally boring ice skating, and uninteresting to even watch, it was just awful. By far the most spectacular was Sleeping Beauty. Maleficent was great, and a very “naughty witch” as G said, battling it out with Prince Philip, even turning into a dragon at the end and lighting the ice on fire at one point, making it by far the most exciting sequence. The final montage was a lot of fun to watch as well, ending with Cinderella’s carriage being brought out again, with sparklers and fireworks going off for a spectacular finale as everyone from the program skated around

Afterwards we took the girls to eat at Red Robin, and got a huge slice of Mountain Mudd Pie for dessert that was shared by all of us. It was so delicious! The girls loved it, and when our server brought them each a balloon, it just sealed the deal, convincing them that it was their best day ever.

After dinner, we had enough time to run to ‘Sports Authority’ where we picked up a pair of snowboard bindings for N, and then found the perfect snowboard for H, all on a fantastic sale.

Then we headed for home, where my Mom was waiting, as she had so kindly been tending to the rest of the children for us. It was truly a spectacular day for us, and Craig and I both agree we are so glad we had the chance to do this with the two little girls, it was well worth it, and something we may just have to do again next year.

Haven colored a picture of herself and Livy together, and she wanted to give it to Liv right away, so she had me post it for her. Haven’s picture in her own words-

“The sun is smiling at us and the heart means we love each other, beacause we talk to each other, and we are having a fun time making funny jokes. I drew yellow hair for me because I have yellow hair, and Livy has brown hair, all curly. And I drew pants on Livy cause Livy only wears pants, everyday.”

Love you Livy!