Little Man's 3-Year Dinosaur Birthday Party

I cannot believe that my little man is now three years old! Crazy!

Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop's Classic Polo (affiliate link) Repurposed from an old shirt and fabric!

We celebrated with a dinosaur cake, a '3' on his shirt using dinosaur printed flannel, and making hand-print stegosaurus' with family and friends! What more could a 3-year-old ask for in a birthday party? I don't know, but I do know that my little man had fun!

I cut triangles from felt for the kids to use as the back plates. I think it added a neat texture element to their hand-prints. :)

cousin's looked awesome using the triangles to create a tail!

name letters tutorial here.

The chickens seemed to be a main attraction! :)

Pants were pattern flip blogged about here.

Images cut with cricut, pressed into frosting to imprint, then outlined with frosting... Love how it turned out! Brandon does such a great job!

I think he was a little embarrassed 

My sister-in-law took the pictures! She does such a good job! :)

*affiliate link

Now to start planning Samara's first birthday... Only 7 months to go! :) Hahah, right...

Until next time, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Shwin Designs: Number 9 Trousers: Cargo and Removable Dinosaur Lining {Flip This Pattern}

Ok. I have been needing to make little man some pants and I want to re-purpose some of our old pants. I have a huge stack of them sitting in our bedroom just taking up space and looking... well... Messy...

And, lets face it, even though we live in the desert the winters can get pretty chilly, especially when you are used to 100+ degree weather. Also, I want to take Nikolai to a part of the city where the houses all decorate with Christmas lights... Walking around at night; it's just too cold for a 2 (almost 3) year old.

So, what better than lined pants? Removable lined pants! I was going to use fleece but as I was going through my fabric stash we saw some dinosaur flannel. How wonderful is that? Nikolai was so happy when he saw that! Brandon asked if he wanted pants made with it and Nikolai just beamed! So, dinosaur flannel it is then!

The Shwin Designs Number 9 Trousers are fairly simple to put together and lend themselves to so many options! 

Here is what I did...

I repurposed an old pair of Brandon's khakis that no longer fit (This Mama Makes Stuff has a pretty good tutorial). I kept the zipper and front crotch seam, but cut the back at the pockets. I added side cargo pockets (perfect for storing toys)...

I love how the cuffs at the bottom look when they are together. I added snaps at the waist under the belt loops to attach the lining. Good thing it was a bitty chilly from the wind outside today, otherwise it would have been too hot (we have been in the upper 70's this week, hurrah desert weather!)...

I made a second pair out of the dinosaur flannel and kept the slant pockets but forwent the welt pocket on the back to cut down on bulk. I did a snap instead of the button in the front. Nikolai loves his dinosaur pants!

Linking up at Frances Suzanne: December's Flip This Pattern

*update 12/23/2013 - he has worn both pants separately twice so far (they are the ones that he goes to if they are clean) and has worn them together today to get a Christmas tree. He was so excited, "They work, mommy! I'm not cold!" he had exclaimed! :) I am so excited and proud! :)

Reflecting on Loss: Thankful for What We Have

I am letting you know. This is a type of honesty post from me. Today has just been an emotional day. This is an emotional post.

I know what it is to experience loss. It is heart wrenching. "Time makes you forget" is an illusion. It is false hope that things will get better. It doesn't get better. It just gets a little easier.

And then, every once in a while you get those not so subtle reminders that seem more to slap you in the face causing an avalanche of tears rather than tickle your cheek to bring down a single drop. Sends you back to the "what-if's" and "if-only's" or "it would be like this now..." Those are the dangerous thoughts. Then, those thoughts because the ultimate self-defeating: This is silly... This is not me... Snap out of it...

That is the time when you need to look at what is before you, not behind you. In the midst of it the present is all there is.

I have shared on Facebook and instagram about a blogger who is need for prayers for a successful surgery and recovery. They still are in need of those prayers. (I am not going too into detail because they are not mine to give)... Me, being emotional already, was sent into a whirlwind of whatever seemed to be tormenting my mind.

I looked at my babies... I couldn't imagine... There is so much wonder, hope and intrigue looking through their blue eyes, directed at me. There is so much I hope for them. I hope for them to become great. To be able to feel successful, to feel loved. I am so glad that I have them. 

We do not realize that life given to us is precious. Just as easily does it start, it can end. The hardest part is just not knowing when. 

So I look at my two babies and am thankful. I am thankful that I have the time with them that I have. My little boy turns 3 on Sunday. Every day, every year, with them is a blessing. It is amazing that anything and everything can change in the blink of an eye.

I am thankful for our good health. That my 2 babies (though the doctor was worried about weight gain) are doing well. (Samara gained 12oz this last month and Nikolai is up to 26lbs!)

Perhaps I am being over emotional. But sometimes, all it takes is that little thing to send you hurtling back...

All I have to do is look into those sweet faces to be reminded that we should be thankful for all we have...

All children deserve to live a full and happy life... thus today I pray...Adapted from John10:10 ... might we have life and might we have it more full...

Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Fabric Challenge: Tucson MQG Stocking Holiday Gift Exchange

Did you read that long title? My goodness, I don't even know... It's just sooo long.... 

Now, to it...

For the Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Challenge participants are given five fat eighths. We are able to do what ever with those fat eighths as long as we use each one and the item is quilted. We can also add solids to the product. Pretty much after that the rest is up to the chapters.

At the October meeting with the Tucson Modern Quilt Guild we decided that we were going to make stockings to use for the gift swap this month. Well, it turned into a gift and a stocking swap... But that is alright.

If you have been following me on Instagram you may have seen my stocking. I am really excited how it turned out! I used the template for a stocking from Positively Splendid and drew what I wanted to do. Then I traced the tree to make a paper piecing pattern and appliqued the presents, ornaments and star. I free motion quilted the snowflakes in a metallic thread (which terrified me at first but turned out just wonderfully!)...

The presents at the bottom are appliqued with batting too so that they are extra puffy.

The back is just fusible no-sew applique

A close up of the free motion quilting. I started with a star on one side and went down making snowflakes. I was trying to go for falling snowflakes. Then after I got to the bottom I went around the tree, then mirrored the snowflakes and star on the other side.

See? kinda puffy presents. The grey is supposed to be ribbon on the wrapping, I was going to do a bow, but ran out of time.

Here is the gift I put together. A mug cozy/coaster (free pattern here) and a tea wallet (tutorial used here but I used a snap closure instead). So easy fast and fun! The mug cozy is crochet.

This was what I got. A cute modern stocking and a this zipper pouch! Awesome! I have been meaning to make a few zipper pouches. I know exactly what to use them for! :)

Linking up at Nap Time Crafters' Friday Favs (home blog of the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop *affiliate link)

Sewing Mama RaeAnna's Cupcake Top

I am so excited to be able to share with you all this fabulous top, the Cupcake Top by

It is super cute and I feel so honored to have been chosen to help test the pattern! I have to say (and I am sure those of you who have been reading my blog know), I am just loving independent designers and the PDF patterns they create!

This top is too cute! I love the pocket!

This picture on her blog post! SewingMamaRaeAnna:cupcake top pattern is here

I was scared to ruffle, but I braved my fear and loved how easy it was. RaeAnna is so ready to respond to questions and help!

I am excited to make at least a couple more! Even Brandon likes this pattern (the fabric from the discount store in town helps too). I need to work on my topstitching...

After a feeding, Samara fell asleep... Time for more pictures. I cannot help it, she is too cute in a really cute top! :)

I just love the sleeping angel face!

The directions are clear and well worded. The shirt went together super quickly! It was great! 

Also, she is offering a discount! 1/2 off (that's $4!) Monday 12/9, Tuesday 12/10 and Wednesday 12/11 using the code "BIRTHDAY"! Head on over to her blog Sewing Mama RaeAnna and check out her little one's 2nd birthday party themed "cute as a button"... Just adorable! :)

This cute top goes from 3-6months up to size 5 and she said she was going to work on grading to go up to a size 12 eventually! :) 

Head on over to her shop and pick one up. This is her second pattern, so help support a starting out independent pattern designer! :) And if not, look at her blog a little bit, she has such interesting stuff and some neat tutorials! :)