Craft Exchange

 Twice a year I participate in a craft exchange through the website Elfster. Each June and December I enter a draw to be paired up with a fellow crafter in the USA. Then we each make a craft and mail it to each other.

I love crafting and I love mail so this is perfect for me. The first exchange I did was a Christmas card exchange and out of the 10 people I was paired up with, only 2 participated.

I've done the craft exchange 5 times, and so far only two people have exchanged with me (I sent all 5 gifts). I participated in an exchange over Christmas and was really excited because my partner seemed really into it, we added each other on pinterest, sent facebook messages about what we liked, and it seemed like a good match. But then the due date for the mailing came and went. And so did January.

Then February.

I was really sad because I thought I was going to get a swap partner and was really excited - only to be disappointed yet again.

When I got an email announcing the summer exchange, my first thought was, "forget it!" But I kept thinking about it and how much I enjoyed it (or at least the thought of it).  I decided I would stick it out one more round and let my partner determine my future participation.

I found out that my partner, Jillian, recently moved to Nashville (jealous!) with her fiance. I mentioned a few weeks ago about getting back into hand painting so I looked online for little craft ideas and saw these cute peg people. I painted a little bride and groom. For my first project, I think they look pretty good! They were easy (but time consuming) and when I looked them up on etsy I saw that people were selling personalized peg people (couples) for $60-100! These aren't as fancy as those ones but I still think it's a fun gift.

My partner runs an etsy shop called Love Leigh Inspirations and works in paper. She sent me this paper flower kit that she created. The color is perfect for how I want to decorate Allison's room and I'm looking forward to putting them together.

Horse Show

Nathan had the day off so we wanted to go on a new adventure. We headed out to the Long view Lake Horse Park (about 30 minutes away) to watch a charity horse show. 

It was $6 for our family to get in and we stayed for about 2 hours. Nathan said it brought back many memories of watching his sister at horse shows when he was younger. I think it's funny how all the places I drag Nathan to  (ie. the fabric store) are places he hated going with his mom and sister when he was growing up. 

I remember talking to my sister-in-law and her telling me that when she tells my brother to clean up or something domestic he tells her that "You sound just like my sister!". I always think it's funny when men think they can find a new type of woman. 

Allison was a little fussy and so Nathan spent time walking around with her while I took photos. I'm so thankful for the time to relax and take pictures without also having to mind Allison. 

Allison was a little scared of the horses at first but then she liked to watch them. We spoke with a man who had a grand-daughter (and horse) in the show. He was from Topeka, KS and he told us how

this competition was a qualifier for the Kentucky State Fair Championship. 

His granddaughter didn't have a good run and she placed last. She walked by me crying (she was about 16). I felt so bad for her. So many of the girls were so nervous and freaked out and their trainers were around the fence giving them pointers, "Heels down! Chin up! Keep him on the rail! Elbows in!" My favorite coach at the event said this, "Smile! It's supposed to be fun!"

A Week of Crafts

I needed to pick something up from JoAnn's at the beginning of the week and while I was there I walked through the Spring clearance section. There were many great things for 70% off. I didn't need any home decor but I found this sunhat. I'm not a hat person but now that I have Allison and spend so much time outside, I need something to keep the sun off me.

It was $20 marked down to $5.99. The hat is great but I really didn't like the Anne of Green Gables sash. I decided that since it was only glued on, I'd pull off the curtain sash and make a black and white band that I could change depending on my outfit. Super easy and makes a huge difference.

While I was wandering around the store I passed by a patriotic fabric section. I already have a Fourth of July shirt for Allison to wear but wanted to make her a skirt so that she'd be cool and comfortable.

I found a simple pattern for a tiered skirt online and used my gathering foot to whip this skirt up during Allison's nap time.

A week ago when I was at the thrift store looking for a "potty" for Allison I saw this large linen dress for $2. I loved the color and material and since it was so cheap, I figured it was perfect to practice sewing with.

My friend Melinda was wearing a romper/jumpsuit to the baby shower last week and she looked so chic that I wanted to see how one would look on me.

I cut the dress at the shoulders, then made the side seems run down the front and back (rather than the side so the side buttons were now at the front). Then I cut off the skirt and made a quick pair of shorts. I added a band for the drawstring and then made a strip of fabric cord for the belt.

I learned so much from this project and even though I'll probably only wear it around the house,  I'm grateful for the experience.

Father's Day

Nathan had the entire weekend off and the weather couldn't have been nicer. It was in the mid 30's on Saturday so we took Allison to the Mission Pool to cool off. We spent 2 hours at the pool and since I had Nathan with me, I could go for a dip and relax a little bit. Allison loves swimming and wants me to hold her belly while she paddles and kicks.

I was in the pool with Allison when she decided she wanted to go see Nathan (who was sitting at a picnic table). She ran over (despite our warnings) and fell on the concrete  and skinned up her knees. This latest injury is the perfect addition to the four misquito bites she has around her right eye (that look like a black eye) and the goose-egg/bruise she has above the same eye. She likes to play on our bed and she had her blankie over her head and fell head first over the side.

This afternoon I went to her room to get her after her nap and she was picking her nose. By the time I got her outside, it was bleeding. She is such a mess - but still so cute.

Allison was great in the church nursery today. She didn't cry and Nathan and I were able to enjoy the entire service together. After the service, I immediately went to get her but she didn't even acknowledge me, she just went back to playing with her friends! I hope this means she turned a corner. As a treat after church, the church staff organized a Dad's Root Beer float party. I think it was only supposed to be for Dad's but I made sure I got one for Alli and I to share.

I wanted to take some Father/Daughter photos of Nathan and Allison but Allison's injuries are a little distracting. Nathan said that I should take them anyway - so with some creative posing I got some cute pictures.

 

Heat Wave

There is a major heat wave moving in KC. Today was 30 degrees, and tomorrow it's supposed to be 36. That is insane for June!

Allison was restless this morning so I decided to take her for a walk at 8am since it wasn't too hot yet. We did our usual loop and found 3 yard sales on our trip.

The first had good things but nothing that we needed. There were 3 kids there selling lemonade and they were following me around the entire I was looking. "That's only $3! You could buy that!", "This is a really good toy!" "Do you want some lemonade or a brownie?" They didn't understand when I told them it was too early for me. I did see a E. O. Brody Co. bowl that I really liked. She said it had been her mother's in the sixties. I really  love the milk white, bumpy vases, but the green bowl was really cool - and for a $1 it was worth it. While I was paying, one little girl came up to me and said, "That will be fifty cents!" I told her it was a dollar and I had paid her mom. "No, it fifty cents for her lemonade!"

And there was Alli, behind the table, drinking their lemonade.

I didn't get anything at the second sale, but at the third I found these great Tupperware pieces. They look (and smell) brand new and for $1.50 (for all) it was worth it for the memory flash back. I also thought the mugs would be perfect for Allison to play/use, since this week while "helping" me do dishes, she picked up a mug of the sink, lifted it, then dropped it back into the water, smashing two glasses. She loves the mugs and immediately wanted me to pour her sippy cup water into one for the walk home.

We spent the rest of the hot day under our umbrella, splashing in the pool,watching bunnies, and playing with our new mugs.

 

Shawnee and the Shower

Today I met up with Lindsey, Katie, and April at Shawnee Town. It a recreation of 1920's Shawnee. It reminded me of the Pioneer Village where Nathan and I got married. The building were well presented and kid-friendly - which is good because Allison wanted to touch everything. She especially loved the jail, and I think it's because she knows she's been a real handful this week.

We toured the town, fed the chickens, listened to old records in the farmhouse, pretended to drive the old cars, then had a picnic lunch at the gazeebo in the center of town. It was a wonderful morning and it was only $3 for Allison and I to go!

 

 

 

Allison went straight to bed when we got home. I was surprised she made it through the 20 minute drive home! While she napped, I was able to try out a new recipe that has been on my fridge for months! They are blueberry cream profiteroles. I got the recipe out of Canadian Living Magazine and while it called for them to be cranberry, I thought blueberry would taste better. They were time consuming to make because they had a lot of steps, but they were easy and I had most of the ingredients in the house. They were light and delicoius.

I made the treats for a baby shower for a woman named Jessica, who had her baby shower at the church tonight.

I brought a copy of 2 of Allison's favorite books, and I made her this easy ombre rag quilt.

My friend Melinda did the decorating for the shower and she did a fantastic job. She told me took all the decorations from her house. If I had to decorate an event (even a small one) with things I had in my home, it would be a bleak party.

 

Thankfully I wasn't in charge of decorating, so it looked great.

Here is our group for the shower.