Some Cheese with that Whine...?

Unbelievably, it's that time again....



I've been working in my classroom a wee bit, basically cleaning and arranging furniture after summer school used our building.  But tomorrow will be a real work day, making copies, preparing lessons and activities, getting ready for Open House, etc.  The beginning of this school year is bitter sweet.  As always there's the new stuff, the anticipation of a great new group of students, and a clean, beautifully organized classroom.  But after spending this summer as a stay-at-home mom, playing and cuddling and reading and napping and watching our sweet girl grow and blossom, it absolutely breaks my heart to think about not seeing her for 10 hours a day.  The blessing is that she will spend that time with Mommy and Grandma Ish at their work, rather than surrounded by strangers.  And we will rush home every night to be together, not just as a couple anymore, but as a family.  So awesome.

Getting back into the swing of school things, and cleaning out cabinets and shelves and such, I stumbled upon a packet of school pictures.  Now, I understand they need the teachers' pictures for the yearbook.  I don't like it, but fine.  But why on earth do they print out a full package for us with an 8x10, two 5x7s, and a bunch of wallets.  I'm 34 years old - what the hell am I supposed to do with a dozen wallet-size professional portraits of myself?  Well, I took three of them and made this - cracked myself up.  The rest got shredded. 

Ah, school days.  The joy (?) of being a teacher is you never outgrow them...

You & You & Me

That's all. :)

Speaking of adventures...

Our little family just had a great one in California!  Hope your summer is ending on a high note, too!

Life's Best Adventures

...are the ones we have together.  I saw this sketch on the October Afternoon blog yesterday and just knew I had to play with it.  Problem was I didn't like it with two photos top and bottom, and I didn't have one big photo that worked.  So I reinterpreted it a little bit and came up with this layout.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I used mostly Studio Calico on it, but the chipboard frame and the Robot Blue Sprinkler are both OA.  Thanks for the inspiration, October Afternoon!  You guys never let me down :)

Mine

I ordered a bunch of October Afternoon 5 & Dime from 2peas last week, along with some other stuff, because I love the palette of navy and soft pink and cream.  I can't believe everyone is about to come out with their new paper lines and I'm just now ordering goodies from the last CHA releases!  I'm ok with it though because today I used my purchases to make this:

First Fourth

Our little patriot :)

 

Also,

A Very Beginner's Project

So I have a little obsession with tote bags.  I buy them, I Pin them, I lust after them. It's a little weird.  Today, I decided to take the bull by the horns and *sew* one.  Lemme preface this by saying I cannot sew a damn thing; not a straight line on paper projects, not a button back on a shirt.  I most definitely didn't think I could tackle functional final products like clothes or a tote bag.  But I found and bookmarked this tutorial, headed to Joann's to find a couple of fabrics I like (which is sooo easy to do. Fabric is almost as delicious as patterned paper!), and spend my afternoon sewing something for the very first time. I figured hey, if it doesn't work, at least I tried.  It will only be a few bucks and a few hours (and a big does of pride) down the drain.

I started by watching a few video tutorials from Sew Sing.   I've had this Singer Sewing machine for quite a while;  I permanently borrowed it from my dad at least a year ago.  I tried once to run it on paper, failed miserably, and moved it to a corner of the craft room never to be used again.  Until today.  I had to begin by learning how to thread it and wind a bobbin.  Yeah, I was that clueless.

I followed the step-by-step directions from Sew Mama Sew extremely carefully.  However, I royally messed up the tutorial's version of a front pocket and had to branch out on my own with what I had left of the red fabric.  I won't show you a closeup of the pocket I did put on the bag because the lines are atrociously crooked and the seams ridiculously uneven.  But it's got a pocket and it actually holds stuff.

Altogether, it took me almost 3 hours. Ha!  And during the process my kitchen looked a lot like this:

Note: That was *supposed* to be the front pocket.  But seeing as how it didn't have a single straight edge or square corner, I formulated a plan B.

But when all was done, I actually have a real tote bag.  Sure the bottom is crazy uneven, and my stitch lines are as wavy as my hair, but I made it myself.  With a gusset, French seams, contrasting pocket and handles, and everything.  Granted, any 7th grader who's taken a basic home-ec class could have done it way better and way faster.  I'm going to choose to ignore that fact and be pleased with my bright new tote bag. It even has buttons. :)

Love that picture

Ever love a picture so much you scrap it multiple times?  Apparently, I have.  I snapped these few shots of the Bean chilling in her crib while I put away her clean laundry and I adore them.  They are so yellow and bright and happy and *her*.  Cheesy as it may sound, they truly capture her essence. :)  So I thought they deserved not one, but three layouts.  These are the two I made yesterday.

In other news, as much as I'd love to pretend my life is nothing but happy baby and pretty paper, it isn't. I'm meeting today with the owner of the assisted living home where we'll be moving my mother to over the weekend.  She's holding steady at the skilled nursing facility, but we feel like she'll get more personalized attention at assisted living. She'll be one of six ladies instead of one of hundreds of patients, and we really feel comfortable with this place. I can't bear to think my mother won't be home, probably ever again. I certainly can't bear to really type out my feelings about it. Choosing even when there is no choice still hurts like hell.

Autumn Press Collection

Just have to share this GORGEOUS new collection from SC. Are you seeing that alphabet?? The scrap pad?? Oh, and the die cuts... It's absolutely to die for.

Autumn Press Collection

Happy Girl

Feeling the love for SC today.  Feel the love for Anniebeans everyday :)