Yesterday, I decided I would take on a new project.  – Not that I don’t have enough going on (in the world of craftiness – what, with making gifts and stuff for a swap, and all)…  I decided I’d try a new “sexy dress” I’d found online.  So, I grab my bag of material and the new thread and power up my sewing machine.  I was ready to rock and roll…err, sew.  Hubs was coming home early, but I still had a good hour or more before he’d be home, and I was elated that I’d be able to meet him at the door in my new dress.  After all, the chic said that the dress only took HER 30 minutes from start to finish.  And, I was a pro, right…as I’d already made one simple dress and a skirt that ended up not fitting my daughter AT ALL (I really should have rethought this).

So, I began.  I cut out my fabric, just winging it…as I had absolutely NO measurements to go by.  None.  She’s one of those geniuses that can do that and come up with stunning masterpieces…and I, well…I was hoping for the best.  Or, just stupid.  Whichever.  Anyhow, I soon figured out that I would have to modify her directions a bit (there were no patterns, just a rough explanation of how it was made to go by).  For starters, she had a um…perfect body.  Think Barbie.  No hips and a cute tiny butt.  I have hips and am ample booty.  So, yeh.  A straight triangle for my skirt-piece.  NOT gonna happen.  It suddenly became clear to me that I was going to have to make this dress …on me.  So, I sewed a little….then put it on….sewed some more…feverishly working, trying to finish before hubby got home.

Until my craft room gets totally organized (as I really REALLY need some shelving in there), my kitchen table is serving as my sewing center.  And, the only mirror is above the buffet table.  So, as I was fitting the skirt to my body, using pins to mark where the lines SHOULD be (but were not), I was also standing on a chair…in my kitchen…in my underwear.  And the skirt-part of the dress…which went right up to under my bust-line.  So, you can imagine my husband’s surprise when he walked into the door.

Not really what I had planned on.

Oh well.  At least there are LOTS of trees and we have blinds.  I really would like a sewing room now.  And a dress form to my measurements.

Oh yeh…and the dress?  It looks like it came straight out of an 80s nightmare.

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It’s so funny the lessons you learn if you just pay attention and stop to watch and listen every once in a while….

And, it can be quite amusing at times, at how those life lessons…or reminders…come.

Yesterday, Lorelei came to me, holding a book – wanting me to read it to her.  So, I sat her in my lap and began reading the book to her.  It happened to be a book about kindness, and how if you show kindness to others (and expect nothing back) you WILL be rewarded.  –Not JUST in heaven, but also here on Earth…HOWEVER, the kindness that you are shown may not be reciprocated BY the person you showed it to…it may come from somewhere completely different.  Some people call this Karma…and no matter what word you use for it…it’s so true.

It’s funny how a little board book can bring a lesson from God straight into my heart.  (Thanks, by the way.  I needed that reminder.)

I need to focus more on loving and being kind, and less on whether or not I get it back from THAT person.  I will get it back.  Does it matter where it comes from?

I have so many things to be thankful for right now, my heart feels like it’s about to burst with goodness.  Simple things…things that mean so much to me.

I love watering my garden, and knowing…Hey.  I did that.  All by myself.

I love watching Lorelei.  I love her laugh, her smile, everything about her.

I love my family.  I love knowing that they are HERE for me.  For us.  I appreciate you all so much, I appreciate your love, your kindness, and EVERYTHING you do.  I’m sorry if I don’t say it enough, but I love and appreciate you.

I love my husband.  I love that he listens to me.  I love that he consistently compliments me.  I love that even when he’s not interested in what I may be doing or in my interests, he GETS interested…if for no other reason than because *I* am interested.  I am excited that he mowed the other day (I know, it doesn’t take much to thrill me lol).  I love that he brought me home 2 aloe plants yesterday.  I’ve been wanting them.  I love that he figured out a way to get them without spending valuable finances.  I love that he works so hard to make me happy.  I love that he is ready and willing to do whatever it takes…for me…and for our daughter.  I love him.

I love the butterflies that dance in my yard.

I love my sweet kitties and puppy that want nothing more than to cuddle up with me…(well, and food.)  I love that they are so sweet with Lorelei – even if she thinks “petting” them means smacking them on the head.  I love how they let her.

I love how Lorelei tries to feed Glory her vegetables when she thinks I’m not looking, and then says “Uh-oh…?” when she sees me trying my hardest to look stern (although I’m trying not to giggle).  And, how she tries to make me laugh afterwards.

I love where we live.  Sometimes, I get antsy because I get bored and want to be around more people.  But, I love it here.  God is good.  He knew I needed this place before I did.  It’s like living at a peaceful resort…all year round…and a walk away from the water.

I love my friends… the ones I’ve met, and the friends online…you all mean the world to me.

I thank God for every person, every obstacle, every blessing that He has put into my life.  He knows me better than I do, and better things are yet to come…

And…if you are interested…I added a couple of products to my “boutique”…look on the left for “Ashley’s Boutique” and click.  I’ll be adding more shortly as I finish products.  I have a habit of making stuff FOR people and not just because…so most things I make aren’t for sale…but soon, I will start making things TO SALE…so, if you want something and don’t see it there…just let me know.  I can make it especially FOR YOU.

I got the itch again during Lorelei’s nap-time. No, I don’t have some weird fungal infection…I mean, the creative itch…I needed to do something with my hands…my mind.

I had seen a cool tutorial for a skirt a while back, and I thought I’d give it a try. During nap-time. So, I calculate my measurements and make my adjustments and even use another skirt as reference. A few hours later, I’m finished and Lorelei is awake.

Too bad it didn’t fit. That’s what I get for making baby clothes during NAP-TIME.

EDIT: I used THIS tute.

Friday, Baby L got some mail (just in time for her birthday) from her great-grandparents.  My Ma (we call them Ma and Pa) had had surgery (kidney removed, actually) not too long ago and wasn’t quite feeling up to the party.  So, she sent a card and money…and here’s L with it on her Birthday Eve (and yes, I totally just made that word up).

Lorelei loves money, but as you can see…not as much as she does her cards. 

Happy First Birthday, Baby Girl!!  Look what mommy and daddy got you!

A Crayola Colorfall Sudsworks!  –I’ll review this one later…but let’s just say I am NOT happy with it.  Crayola is about to get a nice and lovely letter.

THE PARTY!

When: 12 Noon
Where: Mimi’s (my mom’s) house
What: Lorelei’s Bday Party (ONE YEAR)

Decorations: giant pom-poms hung from the ceiling in different shades of pink and lime green (handmade), lime green tablecloths, and a pink bouquet (stargazer lillies and pink roses).

Food:  Pink Lemonade and bottled water.  Grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and toasted buns (which were awesome – Steven has mad skills on the grill).  Chips.  Baked Beans.  Strawberry Cupcakes with a Strawberry Glaze, some Cool Whip, and chocolate dipped strawberries on top.

Who (the people who showed):
Me, Steven, and Lorelei (duh)
Mimi and Gramps (my parents)
Grams (my grandmother) and the original Gramps (in spirit)
Josh and Katelynn (My bro and his lovely gf)
Aunt Sheila and Uncle Ben
Aunt Phyllis
Grandpa (Steven’s dad…aka Bill)
MaryKate and Kamryn
Aunt Teresa, Kandi, and Hope
Carrie and Bella
and Uncle Wally even took a break from hunting to swing in and wish the birthday girl lots of fun…

Her Outfit:  the dress I made for her (and pants and a LS shirt for warmth)

This look.  Yep, that’s pretty much the look we got while singing her Happy Birthday.  She wasn’t quite sure what was going on.

Blow out the candle!!  Or not.

Let’s play in the cake…

And in it goes…

Mmm…Cool Whip.

Oh ho!!!!!

Why hello…are you looking at me???

Cake Destroyer

I had told you about a girl named Allie, and my offer to help a while back in this post.

Well, I just wanted to update you guys! Susan Murphy from Susan Murphy Inc. just ordered a set of 10 cards (with matching envelopes). Her only criteria? They have her business name on them.

And, so I made some…

Thanks, Susan! (You can visit her site HERE.)

Don’t forget! I’ll CRAFT FOR ALLIE until next Friday, so if you want to place an order, let me know!

More details here.

Remember my Thursday Thirteen post on First Impressions from 2 weeks ago? I listed a bunch of stuff that I had made. Well, I just found out about a really sad and tragic story about a girl named Allie, who came home from college to visit her mother – only to find that she had passed away. So, we are uniting together to do what we can. And, here’s what I’m offering up. For the next week (7 days), I will be selling some of my wares – and then donating EVERY PENNY to Allie. I can make scarves (even for your little ones), hats, pendants (like the ones I showed), and card sets.

Please email me (or leave a comment with your email address so I can email you) and I’ll get to crafting for you. It really is a limited time offer…and it’s for a really good cause. And – if there is something else you’d like made for you…just ask, chances are, I can do that too.

PLEASE NOTE: This was originally posted on my First Impressions blog. I’m extending my offer until March 14, 2008. All profits (less shipping and materials) will go directly to Allie. It’s for a good cause, and you get something cool – so why not? Not sure if I make it? Just ask!

Lorelei will soon be 1 whole year old *sigh*. I’m all for parties, so of course, she’s going to have a neat little birthday bash. This year, it’ll probably just be a cookout – with friends and family…which means, I hope it’ll be warm –because, if not…I don’t know where I’ll put all of those people!

I’m planning on making L’s cake…and it’ll be my first time ever to play with fondant…so we’ll have to see how that goes. And, it’ll be a layered cake…my first time doing that, too. Lots of firsts, right?

Ah…I’ll let you know all about my plans for her 1st birthday party…that will take up a whole ‘nother post. Right now: it’s about the dress.

I decided on a “pillowcase dress”…they’re easy, simple, cute and can become halter tops when she’s bigger.

Here’s baby L, getting ready:

Closeup of the dress (yes, those are strawberries on the dress):

the back:

And, the full-length shot:

Hopefully, I can get some better pictures of her in it later. She wasn’t feeling the whole “model” thing this morning. She mostly wanted to play with the ties on her shoulder. That, and crawl on me to push camera buttons.

Note:  HERE are the instructions on how to make one.  I didn’t have any cute pillowcases, especially not that small…so I just used some fabric I found and winged it.  This is my first ever dress – so, be nice