Joy and frustration

So there is the type of joy of a job well done (my curtains!) The type of joy when the boys use the potty ALL day and we don't have any pee pants to wash (YAY!) The odd joy of feeling my insides reposition...(ugh) And the other odd joy I get from making mistakes (huh).....I always feel confused when I make mistakes....Not that I am perfect (but I am), it's especially confusing when I envision something and then when I do it I am not thrilled. Confused? Yeah me too.....

I have been making denim cuff bracelets, it's tons of fun and it's a tiny little canvas so to speak, so I do things I would not normally try or think would look cool. I have a TON of ideas running around in my head about what I can do to these bracelets, just simple stuff, but TONS of it! So far the first one I learned from and after that I have made 6 or 7 that I adore (I even hate to part with them)....but then I started one I was really excited about, I thought it would be clean, classy and fun all at the same time. Now that I got going I HATE it, it is terrible, and I can not seem to pick it up to even figure out how to fix it...I just moved on to something else something I don't hate, but I won't mind if any one buys it. I do this to myself, I make a mistake and I get all frustrated and try to over simplify or just not put myself into it....it always turns out lame and I just stop. I am trying really hard to just muscle through this time, I recently heard someone say "mistakes are NEVER bad, without them you won't learn"...true, I knew that, duh, and that's what I try to teach my kids, but why when it comes to me do I get soooo discouraged I let myself become lame? I am not lame, I pretty much rock! So it's time to own it and rock these denim cuffs again...I think....

I think my hang up is that some things in my mind contain magic, not like Prince Ali magic, but just plain magic where all the hand stitches are exact, they are even and perfect. But that is so unattainable, and what's the point to making something by hand if it looks like it was made by a machine? Not much point, so I just have to suck it up and learn from my mistake(s) and remain awesome, instead of becoming lame....

Here's 3 of what I've done (I would add more but my child got frustrated and threw my camera :( ) If you want to try your hand at making a cuff register for the Embellish Class on Saturday August 4th!

Foiled again

As always my best laid plans get dashed...I took a whole slew of pictures while making curtains for the boys play room recently and as luck would have it I can't find the camera cord to upload them, and my computer has declined to read the card :(  oh well, they will get uploaded eventually :)

I must say I did a wonderful job, and because I bought the fabric on clearance and had a limited amount I had to be creative (darn) and I was really proud of how they turned out. I usually prefer tab curtains (fabric tabs go over the rod), but I didn't have enough for those. My second choice is pocket curtains (the rod is concealed), but that style usually takes more fabric than tab curtains. So I used ribbon, at first I thought I would make the tabs out of the ribbon, but the red did not match as well as I would have liked. Then I thought no problem, it's wide I will make a pocket with the ribbon, then I thought it might be too stiff and hard to pull back in the winter when we want the sun to heat the room up. So I made a hi-bred, tabbed-pocket curtain. So, the ribbon is on the back of the curtain and nobody can see that the red does not match, but I just did 5  tabs on each curtain so it would fall nicely when I pull it back this winter! I can't wait to post pictures, but that will have to wait.

Do you have something at home you keep putting off? I have been putting these curtains off since early December.....2011 at least. It is always easier to sew when you are surrounded by company! Join our class, it will be held in the Regalitos shop at Art 634 from 10:30 until you are done! I can help walk you through the whole process and we can even get creative with it if you need! Call (517)740-3698 to register or email holeyaltered@gmail.com.

Don't feel like doing a home project, clothes are more your forte....no worries. I am holding a class on Tuesday (7/24) at 6pm, take your favorite (or least favorite) article of clothing and we will make it AMAZING! I just taught a group of 8 women this type of class and we had a blast. Come be inspired, have a good time and make-over your closet!

Having a Baby

So the news is out, and I did say I was going to use this blog to post about family and work and how they are so entwined.....and what have I been thinking lately while trying to get ready for classes or make a to do list, or clean....this ever growing bump.

So, let me clear something up; a mother of twins does not ALWAYS produce more than one baby at a time. I know that to everyone who hasn't seen my daily frustrations it is kind of funny to poke and ask about twin girls, but that makes me cry. Honestly, the idea of another 2 years of working to get to the point where I can function and shower, and do dishes, and sleep and spend time with my husband outside of "can you please try something with this one"... it would be horrible. On top of the fact that I am not any where near as big as I was when carrying two. Don't get me wrong, my boys are amazing and totally worth the two years of lost sanity and I truly hope they each get to experience TRIPLETS, but that doesn't mean I want to relive the last two years of my life. This is when it's getting good, and they are playing games with each other, and leaving momma to do the dishes. I like it, why would you want to make me cry and suggest that I am going to go through the frustrations of twin infancy again?

The other assumption you should all know is completely off base...I do not feel like I NEED a girl. Yes, I teach ballet, yes my favorite color is pink, it is true I love everything ruffled, it is also true I love doing crafty things and sewing. It is also true the my sons run around the house wearing my tiara while they play air guitar, they don't wear ruffles, but they wear plaid, which I also LOVE! They love to sew, draw, knit, and do every other craft I do. Yes they are boys and they will possibly grow out of the tiara, they may not like all the crafty stuff, and I may never get to make embroidery floss friendship bracelets....but then again, maybe I will. Jamison is also a beautiful dancer already, he can to arabesque stretches, can do the splits, and loves to do turns. So I have two boys, doesn't mean a girl would be any better suited to all my interests. My boys are fabulous and I will love them even if they become lawyers. Of course I will love a daughter if that is what I have, but I will also allow her to be interested in dirt bikes, or foot ball, or any other thing that you would deem "masculine". I think the best thing my parents ever did was let me decide when I wanted a Pink room top to bottom, and when I wanted a blue room top to bottom. My boys will always be given their choice in activities, nothing will be decided by gender. And if I have a girl this time she too will always be allowed to be who she is. And for the record, I will be thrilled to have a healthy happy baby, and please stop telling me I need a girl. I don't NEED one gender over another, because gender does not determine their interests.