Remember this fabric?

A while ago, in September, I decided to participate in a challenge event being put on by my local quilt shop, the Dragonfly Quilt Shop. I was given (as were the others that participated) a yard of this fabric, not knowing what it was.

Do you remember this fabric?

This was the challenge fabric.

I came up with several ideas for the fabric, but finally decided on a jewelry theme project.

I started with making a necklace holder. Here it is displaying some of my necklaces.

Then I decided to make an earring holder to go with the necklace holder. Here they are pictured together.

I made a necklace using the fabric.

Made some flowers to put on a baby headband.

And finally, I made a set of earrings to be displayed on the holder (here is the close-up picture, sorry it isn't the best quality).

The shop's website has pictures of all of the participants' projects. And if you happen to be in the Athens/Watkinsville area, you can go in and vote for my project as your favorite (if mine is your favorite) until December 11th.

Tis the season...for Christmas Cards!

If you can't tell by the sudden revival and life to my blog, I am back in Iowa for the week on Thanksgiving break. As we are gathering with family and friends for Thanksgiving, of course my first thoughts go to "It's almost Christmas!" and this of course leads to some level of panic with everything that needs to be done before the 25th of December. One of these items: Christmas Cards!

I have always enjoyed receiving and sending Christmas cards. I remember as a kid looking at all the pictures and updates we would receive and now I always look through the basket of cards, letters, and pictures when I am home for the holidays. This year I am thinking I may have to use Shutterfly to make some holiday cards...with of course pictures! While I don't have cute children of my own to use in a card, I still have a few options for this year: the standard a picture of Parker and myself, picture of me with my adorable nieces and nephew, or pictures from my summer in London. So many choices...

I think I like the cards with multiple pictures, that way you can experience more of my year!

Option 1: Cheery and Red

Option 2: Colorful Snowflakes

Option 3: Cute Stocking Card

Option 4: And finally, a card with 6 pictures!

Place your vote for which card you would like to see in your mailbox this holiday season! And make sure I have your current address!

And of course Shutterfly offers other products that I need to take advantage of, like photo books! My goal is to put together a photo book to help organize my few thousand pictures from my 6 weeks in London! I can't wait to start working on it, I might have to make more than one! Or maybe I should just make a calendar...that way I can have new pictures every month! So many options!

Check it out: Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… learn more here.

Baby M's Shower

This year has been a great year of friends' weddings, pregnancies, and babies! Last weekend myself (along with Katie, April, and Randi) threw a baby shower for our friend Meg Mierswa (and her husband Myles, too). We had such a great time throwing the shower and can't wait to meet little Mazlyn in February!

Here are some highlights from the day.

Decorations and gifts made the place look great!

Randi and April's diaper cake.

Mazlyn's monogram and some of our great bunting!

Some of the food...delicious, if I do say so myself!

Some of our outside seating area!

Mazlyn songbirds.

Opening my gift!

All of the guests.

We had an activity to decorate onesies so Mazlyn is outfitted with some custom attire. Here is some of the final collection!

Four hostesses with Mom-to-be!

And of course we needed a belly shot!

Meg and I with the diaper bag I made her!

Just Meg and I

And of course we need a few face pics...my favorite, "Can we fit everyone in?" We have: Katie, April, Meg, Me, Britton, and Randi all in one face pic...so much fun!

Is it really Thanksgiving?

As you can tell by lack of posts, fall semester came into full swing and took over my life. And somedays, it has no end in sight, but it will be over before I know it. Things have been going well so far, but can be draining at times. Teaching 3 classes and taking a class as a student has been taking their toll lately, so when I am not working I am usually trying to relax (or craft) and apparently not posting here regularly.

So a few updates on what has been happening (and future topics for posts):

• I have seen several losses and wins by the Bulldogs...while not the best season in history it has still been fun, at least to tailgate.

Tailgating in style with the limo.

Tailgating with baby Caroline (Courtney and Dom's baby) in October!

• At the end of September I got to spend a few days in Nebraska for Kristin Warner's (now Vest) wedding. It was such a great weekend, with a beautiful wedding and wonderful time with friends.

A picture with Kristin...while she was still a Warner!

And then at the reception with Mrs. Vest!

Hanging out with the MOH Carmen while Kristin and Rich were taking pictures.

• The girls with Britton on her first night at Thursday night dinner at La Fiesta! A custom La Fiesta onesie and all!

• I had a Glee-ful Halloween. Katie, April, and I dressed up as some of our favorite characters on the show, Glee.

Meg (the fifties housewife) and Me

• I have had some good time crafting, when I fit it in. Lots of new babies have joined us and even more babies to come, so I am being kept busy making gifts for these wonderful blessings!
• And less exciting I spend a lot of time writing lectures, exams, and papers. No pictures or exciting stories to go with this.

Hopefully I will keep the updates more regular in the future (with more pictures of course)! I hope to even post about some previous events too...just to get all of my pictures updated!

Latest projects

Now that I am home from London, I have less exciting things to blog about. My regular life consists mostly of teaching, preparing to teach, answering student e-mails, reading for the class I am taking, etc. Luckily I am working on the balance in my life and am finding more time to do things I enjoy outside of work, like hanging out with friends and crafting! So, be prepared for my craft projects to be posted!

Here are a few of my latest projects:

I decided to try making a hooded towel for a friend's baby shower. It worked out pretty well (just don't look at the sewing too closely). I ended up making two, one with the blue trim and one with the pink trim.

All folded up!

The whole thing.

I found a really cute idea for bibs using scraps. I made two bibs (two different sizes) to try it out. I am still working out the sizes, but I think they are really cute. The smaller bib was a gift at the baby shower and the other was sent to my niece Madelyn with her birthday present (even though she is almost too old to wear bibs anymore).

The two bibs, can you tell which one went to the newborn and which one went to the two year old? ;)

I have a new stash of Amy Butler heavy weight fabric, I really love the Amy Butler's fabrics and am excited to start using the heavy weight fabric more. I needed to make a birthday present for a friend and had the perfect chance to try out the fabric. I am pretty happy with the end result, I almost didn't want to give it away. Guess I will have to make one for myself.

I attempted to make yo-yo flowers for the first time. I think they add a nice little detail to the bag (sorry the picture is a little blurry).

I have decided to participate in a challenge project from a local quilt shop. I was given a yard of the fabric below. It is a challenging fabric to work with because of the lines, print, and colors. Now I have to come up with a good idea of what to use it in for it for the competition. Suggestions are welcome!

Back in the States Catch-Up

I have already been back in the states for three weeks. It is hard to believe it has been that long! So here is a little update on what has been going on:

• First I will start with the last few pictures from London. After our last day of class, I went to walk the tower bridge. While I had seen the bridge many times while in London, I hadn't actually walked across it yet.

My room as I was leaving, with all of my luggage. I was sad to leave, but glad to get back home at the same time.

• I flew to Iowa the week I got back from London to see my family and to get Parker. It was great to see the fam while I was home and celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary with them.

I am really glad I can teach/encourage Avery and Madelyn good things while I am home!

Look at how big this boy is getting...I can't believe this is my same nephew!

Avery and Madelyn in the fire truck.

Checking out the airplane.

Avery flying the airplane.

Madelyn driving the fire truck.

Avery playing the Operation game.

Madelyn playing (very seriously) with the animals.

Can you say: monkey see, monkey do? I am not even sure what the girls are doing here, but it is along the lines of Avery was doing it so Madelyn needed to do it too.

We spent one afternoon with Avery and Madelyn at the Children's Museum in LaCrosse. It was a lot of fun to play with the girls at the museum.

• I lucked out and was able to see my friend Val while I was home. Val travels a lot for her job and I am always happy when she is near Decorah while I am home. It was great to catch up and enjoy some Whippy Dip together!

• While I was in London, I really missed having my sewing machine and my craft supplies. Since I have been back in Athens I have been bitten by the craft bug. Here are some of my recent projects:

I made two projects for Baby Britton (my friends Randi and Jon's new little girl). I hope Britton likes the wreath on her door and her taggie blanket.

I made a tote for the shelves in my office...it is even collapsible in case I fill up the space on the shelves with books and papers!

I even made a new set of place mats for myself. I definitely needed them.

• I spent most of last week in meetings and trainings getting ready for classes to start. This was the first week of classes at UGA...and my first week with my new job. In case you hadn't heard, I was hired as a Lecturer in my department for this year. So this year I am switching from a full-time student and part-time employee to a full-time teacher and part-time student. It should be an interesting year, I am teaching three classes this semester with 285 students. I think I will stay busy...