I'm so forgetful!

How dare I offer a giveaway and forget to pick the winner! Must have slipped my mind between all the puking/coughing/sleeping this weekend. Anyway, Isaiah was my little helper this morning picking the winner. I'll remember not to ask him next time! haha. Sooo the winner is....

Lera e-mail me your address and I'll send them off to you. Maybe you can use them for your applique addiction!

Apparently, Isaiah wanted to have two winners. Surprise! So, the second winner of these 4 fabrics is.......

LeeAnn e-mail me your address to katiebhandbags@gmail.com!

And for good measure, Isaiah decided to eat the paper after picking the winner!

Fabric Envy

I have been feeling the need to buy fabric a lot lately. Mostly because I read a lot of blogs, and then I fall in love with their fabrics, and then I want them.

This happened the first time I saw these fabrics from Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy line. Of course, this was followed by oogling other gorgeous fabrics, Amy Butler, Heather Bailey, you get the idea. The point is, I have resisted buying these fabrics and I don't know how much longer I can do it! I have yet to actually see any of these fabrics in any store. I have, however, searched out the retailers of such fabrics, but have decided that it might just be a little too obsessive to go to one just for that fabric! After all, I do have more than enough fabric to clothe an army! Now Densye Schmidt has a new line coming out and it's just as cute as her first. And it's called Katie Jump Rope. It shares a namesake with me! See it must be a sign that I am meant to have these fabrics! I am such a sucker for fabrics that have a vintage look to them. How do you guys deal with your fabric or supplies obsessions?

I go thrifting! haha. Is this healthy? In the last week, I have been to the thrift store 3 times. I did find lots of nice things, including something for my Spring Pink & Green Swap! I also found this really cute table cloth by Oleg Cassini. Fancy Schmancy. He was the one responsible for dressing Jackie O!

And some vintage bias tape for .65! Almost too pretty to cut up. I just might have to use them to embellish some bunnies. Did anyone catch Martha yesterday? They made the most adorable Pom-Pom Bunnies! Like I need another project. Anyway, you can go here if you need the instructions or if you missed the show!

A crafty weekend

Thank you so much for all your well wishes! After Thursday night's episode, we're all feeling much better with only a few sniffles left.

Saturday we took Isaiah to his first Easter egg hunt at Riversdale Mansion right down the street from us. We got there, and I realized I had forgotten the camera so I walked back to our house to get it. By the time I got back, Isaiah, of course, had already lost interest in the whole process. I think he may have been intimidated by the other kids running after all the eggs and was more interested in watching them go for the eggs. I managed to catch a few shots of him in action, but this is my favorite.

Yesterday was my husband's 25th birthday. We went out to dinner with my cousin and her boyfriend on Saturday night. They had planned to take Isaiah overnight on Saturday, but since Isaiah was still a little sick, we had to change our plans. It was a little disappointing because I was looking forward to a night out alone with hubby, but it turned out to be a really fun night after all.

I was able to complete 2 craft projects that I have been wanting to do for a while. I finally finished this little wristlet I had started like two months ago. It's made from scraps that I had from other projects. I also added a layer of batting and did a little quilting on the front. I used Kelli's wristlet tutorial, which is very easy to follow! So thank you Kelli!

I also made this apron from the InStitches book. I couldn't really take a great photo of it, but I'm really happy with the way it came out. This was actually a fairly quick project, so I recommend it if you need a quick sewing fix.

And in other news, I am soooo excited that it is finally baseball season!! Last night hubby and I cracked open some beers and watched the Mets and the Cards. Today at 2pm I'll be watching my beloved Yankees on tv. I can't wait to go to some baseball games this year. It is by far my favorite summer activity to do. I don't think there's anything better to do (well other than crafting, of course!) then going to a baseball game, drinking beer and eating a hot dog! We live close to both the Orioles and the Nationals, so hopefully we'll be able to go many times!!

Oh What A Night...

Last night, after putting Isaiah to bed, I made myself dinner and a very nice and well deserved margarita. Halfway through the second one, I thought I'd check on Isaiah. I went into his room (and it was probably the tequila thinking), and thought "hmm I don't remember putting that many toys in his bed." Then I smelled something funny, turned on the light, and realized he had thrown up everywhere, crawled through it, and gone back to sleep! Ahh.. major mom moment. I felt soo bad, so I woke him up and starts saying "what? what? what?" (BTW he has never said what before!) Anyway, I clean him up, bring him downstairs to give him so water. He was walking around and playing while I was talking to my sister in law. Then he starts to cough again, and throws up all over me, the couch and our new carpet! So, if you're counting, this would be changed of clothes #2. A few minutes after changing him, he threw up again! Change the clothes, again, which turns out not to be an easy task because most of his clothes were either dirty or wet in the wash. Meanwhile, I'm trying to call my husband at job #2 to see if he could come home, but he was really busy and couldn't. So, I decided to drive to the nearest 24 hr CVS, Isaiah in tow, which just happens to be in College Park. All the kids are going to the bars and here I am bringing my sick 1 year old child to CVS. Ha!

Of course, I start to feel sick, so Isaiah and I pass out in bed, coughing sporatically throughout the whole night. Hubby had to go to work this morning, but luckily he was able to come home around 11:30. I slept most of the day, as did Isaiah, and I think we're both feeling a little better. Although Isaiah started crying as soon as hubby had to go to work again tonight, but, that wasn't anything a little ice cream couldn't cure!

So tonight, I may get around to sewing. Last night I had started making so more baskets, figuring maybe the margaritas would help, but apparently Isaiah had some other plans.

Anyway, I thought having a giveaway would make me feel better. It will be six sample fabrics from a bunch that I picked up from the thrift store. Each is about 9 x 7 inches, big enough to do some applique, scrap work, or you can fold one in a half to make a pouch. I have not washed them, or taken off the stickers, so if you win, you'll have to do that. Anyway, just leave a comment and I'll choose the winner monday or tuesday (probably tuesday haha). Happy weekend all.

Dear Martha

Dear Martha,

I had high hopes for this project, but you have failed me once again. The first time, it was the Buttercream Icing for Isaiah's birthday cake. Now it is those little pipecleaner baskets in your latest MSL edition. I had visions of cadbury mini eggs filling six, one for each of my Easter guests. I even found pipecleaners already in the right colors, because Lord knows I wasn't going to dye any. I sat down last night, excited about my Easter project, and read the directions ever so carefully. I cut and weaved and was extremely disappointed. Unhappy with this, I thought I'd opt for the larger basket version. Martha, how many times will I have to do this project in order to get a perfectly woven and symmetrical basket? Did you have your worker bees making hundreds of these, just to photograph one for your magazine? Chances are, you didn't even make one yourself. No, I will not admit defeat, and I will carry on with this project. I will make more, because that after all, is the Martha way. My guests will have their own baskets of goodies on Easter, even if my fingers are worn from weaving those baskets. And I will make those bunny eggs, too. See my devotion, Martha? You should hire me. Seriously.

Sincerely yours,

Katie

I know some of you also had issues with this project. Anyone else come out with perfect ones? I must say the larger one came out better, but it's still lopsided. It'll probably be tonight's project during Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy.

I was hoping to do some sewing last night, but somehow I have misplaced my zipper foot. Hmm... could it be in one of our 10 unpacked boxes!?!? By the way, thanks for your comments yesterday, allowing me to not feel so guilty about those boxes still being there! Lucky for me, hubby has the entire week of next week for Spring Break! He has no idea what's in store for him (unless of course he's reading this, love you babe!).

Oh, and does anyone else dislike Sanjaya still being on American Idol as much as I do??? It drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!

a bunch of gibberish

I spent this morning driving around trying to find an address to pick up free patterns and cooking light magazines. I saw an add on freecycle.org and someone was giving them away. She said she would leave the things on her porch this morning by 7:30 am. So I drove over there around 9, and nothing was there. I even emailed her last night to make sure she was putting them out, and she said she would. Then I thought, well maybe I have the wrong address, so I drove up and down the street (which is very long and stretched across a major road) to see if anyone had something on their porch resembling these items. I did, however, notice the millions of neighborhood watch signs around, thinking that someone was probably snooping and wondering why I was driving up and down the street!

Twenty minutes later I decided maybe it was time to leave and go check out the thrift store. I found a couple of interesting jars, and something for the swap, but nothing in the fabric department. I really need to go check out some more stores in the area! So after leaving the store, I decided to drive by the house again to see if the items were there, but no such luck. Hopefully she'll e-mail me back to let me know what's going on.

Anyway, I've been having a hard time finding the motivation to do any crafting. I mean, I really want to, but I've been feeling so tired by the time Isaiah goes to bed, that I hardly have any motivation to do so! Our house is still packed with moving boxes, so anytime that I have a free second, I feel I should be doing something to get the house in order. Ugh, the work of a housewife! I should be getting paid for this!

Last night I did manage to get one teeny tiny thing made. Hopefully there will soon be others to join her and I'll have something to show you.

In other news, I found this great coffee drink at Target yesterday. If any of you are Starbucks fanatics like I am, you probably know about the Java Chip Frappucino. My hubby loves them, and as soon as I saw this, I thought he'd love it. I think they were $3.99 for 6, which is just about the same as paying for 1 starbucks drink. It's a powdered mix that you add coffee, milk, or water to and either serve over ice or blend with ice. They're really tasty and highly recommend them!

And for a good laugh, yesterday after Isaiah went to bed I thought I'd plant some more seeds. It was so nice outside, I think it got up to 85! Anyway, after planting the seeds, I went inside to fill up the watering can and then went along, happily watering my plants. Then all of a sudden I felt a large wet drop, which I thought was bird poop because it couldn't possibly be rain with a bright sunny sky. Oh, you guessed it, a quick afternoon shower, and me standing outside watering the garden with a watering can. Hmmm... now my neighbors must really think I'm crazy!

I hate to brag..

But look what was waiting for me in my mailbox Friday afternoon! It came just in time so that I could read it on our very long car ride up to Rochester. I swear I am totally addicted to these magazines right now. I hope this obsession doesn't last long, otherwise I'll be broke! Here are some of my favorite projects from it.

I'd even like to make these yummy raspberry cupcakes!

Last night I had a serious craving for chocolate, so I whipped up a batch of these delicious Martha Stewart Brownies. I added some shredded coconut and mini chocolate chips to mine, just in case they weren't rich enough. Oh, they are so yummy, my husband took one to work for breakfast!

Another reason to be happy is that it is only 11am and it is already 80 outside! Whooohooo. I plan to take Isaiah for a nice walk and maybe do some gardening. We'll see how that turns out. Hope you all have a nice warm day like I do!

winner and a birthday gift

So, one or two days turned into 4, sooo... the winner of the Teacup Lights is... drumroll please..

So Karyn, please e-mail me (katiebhandbags@gmail.com) your address and they will be on their merry little way to you soon!

Giveaways are fun, so I'm thinking I might do another one this week, so stay tuned!

Anyway, my weekend was very hectic, but fun. Friday afternoon we left to drive up to Rochester and it turned out to be one very long trip! Traffic around here on Fridays is always awful. It took us almost twice as long as it should to go from D.C. to Baltimore. Add to the mix that Isaiah decided to hold his poop in all day long and you have a lot of screaming in the car, present company included. So we didn't get in until 11:30 at night and by then Isaiah was wide awake and ready to play. Aggh...

The next day was a lot better. My parents were also in town and we went over to my mom's brother's to celebrate her birthday. I decided to make her a cute little tote bag, inspired by the lovely Alicia. Once I saw these bags I knew I had to make one. I know, not very original, but I really do like the way it came out. It's probably hard to tell from the pics, but those are pleats!

Now, I really have to share this story, so if you don't like poop, look away! As I mentioned, Isaiah was having a pooping issue, which he really never has. So we go to leave on Sunday morning, and of course, Isaiah had yet to poop. He actually fell right asleep the moment we got in the car, but an hour later, wakes up screaaaaaaaaming. We find a rest station, pull over and take him of the car. He's standing up, feeling better, and then I smell the suspicious odor. We go to change him, and I can't find the wipes. John runs to the bathroom for some toilet paper, and we change him, and it's a crapping huge poop. I mean like panda sized poop. I realize he's not done yet, but cover him with a diaper and he finally gets the second one out. So I'm waiting for John to go get some more T.P. and Isaiah started peeing... everywhere. I'm trying to cover him up, but it's just not working because I am laughing to hard. Oh, at this point, I should mention he his peeing on the driver's seat! After he's done peeing, he rolls over to stand up and almost steps on the poop! John comes back, looks at me and starts laughing. Poor Isaiah is crying because he's had a traumatic poop and now he is all wet. Twenty minutes later, fresh diaper and clothes, daddy sitting on pee and we're back on the road. We had to stop 2 more times to change poop! Luckily for those ones, I found the wipes, which happened to be right at my feet the whole time! At least Isaiah slept for the last 3 hours of the trip.... Phewwww..

After the whole incident. Looks rough, doesn't he?

Anyone else have a good car/road trip story?

My Lucky Day

Ok... so you are not going to freakin believe it, but look what I found!!!

Yesterday I went up to Baltimore to visit my brother-in-law who just had surgery. While I was there I had to tie up some loose ends, so I ran to the Borders nearby to see if they had it. Jen had left a comment that she found hers at Borders, so I figured I'd try there. First I checked the craft magazines, but it wasn't there. Not to be defeated, I looked over in the foreign magazines and there sat a lone Marie Claire Idees magazine. I cannot tell you the sheer excitement I felt. I probably looked like such a lunatic because I was grinning from ear to ear and clutching onto the magazine like someone was trying to take it from me. Now mind you, I had been going to this same Borders once a week for a couple of months. It had become a nightly escape for me after dinner to go read some magazine and have a coffee. And they never ever had that magazine. But oh, how my luck had changed!

I am in love with this magazine. Everything is so pretty and I want to do all the projects. I was always in love with everything French. I took it in high school and college, so I can read a little. I have never been to France, but maybe someday!

Aren't these things just so dreamy? I want to make everything. Even the recipes looked yummy.

And look at this craft table. How cute is that? Everything is so neat and organized. Who am I kidding? I'll never be that neat and organized, but a girl can dream, can't she??!?

Oh, and of course I find this magazine after I had obsessivly placed a bid on one on ebay. Someone was selling like 10 of them separately and I bid on a few, but only won one. Thank goodness, my husband's probably really thinking I'm crazy now. So this should be on it's way to me soon!

Then I ran to the Post Office. A while back the man who runs it had asked me if I wanted to sell some of my bags there. It is a contracted post office, so it had a little gift shop in it. And guess what? He had sold one! Good thing I just had spent $9 on the magazine. hee hee.

And then waiting for me at my in-law's house was my April Issue of MSL. I love having that every month. My lovely cousin, who got married in September, gave that to me as a bridesmaid gift. Who ever said being a bridesmaid didn't have its perks!?!?

Alright, hope you all enjoyed my magazine obsession! I hope I'm not creating an obsession for anyone else! I'm off to visit family in Rochester, NY this weekend. Have a great weekend!

Martha Swap

My Martha Good Things Swap is over and I sent out my package on monday. Yesterday I got home and I found a nice package waiting for me. I ripped into it like it was Christmas and I could feel my husband's eyes burning on me. He thinks I'm so crazy! He actually said, "if you accumulate enough junk to I have the right to throw it out?" Uhhh... NO!!?!? Anyway, for the swap we each had to name a list of at least 5 crafts from Martha's Good Things we would like to receive. Our partner was to pick 3 of them and then make a 4 thing as a surprise (it could be any of Martha's crafts). So, I sent teacup lights, flowery notes, strawberry pincushions, and the tea towels I posted about before. Here they are in all their glory:

and my partner sent me button magnets, wallpaper cards, memorabilia tin, and a teacup light.

Aren't they just too cute? This was my first swap and it was so much fun. I have now signed up for the Pink and Green swap and I can't wait to start looking for goodies!

And now for a random giveaway. If you look closely at the teacup lights I made, you will see two others in the background. I made extra because I thought they were so cute, but now since my partner sent me one, I suppose I don't really need it. So, I'd love to share "good things". Just leave me a comment and I'll pick a winner maybe tomorrow or the next day.

Some catching up to do...

First, I just wanted to say thanks for all that have been reading my blog and leaving such nice comments. When I first started blogging, I wasn't exactly sure how it was going to turn out, but now it has become a part of my everyday routine. I love relating to others' lives and crafting tales. And I'm sure glad to find out I'm not the only crazy crafter out there! So thank you for your kind words, emails, etc. I really do appreciate them!

Secondly, I was wondering if anyone ever gets this magazine. I often see other bloggers mentioning it and I have been dying to get a copy. I can never ever find it. Do you guys ever see it in the bookstore? I was reading reviews on the amazon page and a couple of people recommended not getting it from there because their subscriptions never came.

Since Isaiah's first birthday party was no almost a month ago, I thought I'd share some pictures and stories. It's hard to believe he's already one. Sometimes I'm still weirded out about the fact that I even have a kid! But now I can't imagine life without this little crazy guy! This is me with Isaiah at 9 weeks. It is one of my favorite pictures.

Oh right... I said I was going to talk about the birthday party! I went with a penguin theme. Isaiah was a penguin for Halloween, so I thought why not continue with it. It'd be a penguin kind of year. Penguins are hot right now, but it was very hard to find party supplies, believe it or not. (I can't believe I just said hot like Paris Hilton!)

Here's the spread of food. We had sandwiches shaped like fish, shrimp, hummus, and some other fun things. Do you see that picture in the background of Isaiah? My brother in law did that as a Christmas gift for us. Isn't it so cute? He's still in college and just learning how to do it too!

For Isaiah's cake I made the Igloo cake from Martha's December or January issue of MSL. It was supposed to have this nice elaborate buttercream icing piped on it, but Martha failed me and the recipe didn't come out. So, Betty Crocker and a toothpick to the rescue. My 4 year old niece reassured me and said "I think Martha would approve!" Ha, gotta love that girl. I also used Wilton's edible glitter, which I think is just about the best thing ever. It made the whole cake sparkle!

We almost lost the cake to grubby fingers!

I also made cupcakes with blue icing with Swedish fish on top. I think that was Isaiah's favorite part!