Savvy Passions

2011-12-26T15:56:00.000-06:00

Kitchen from Better Homes and Garden

There are several things that I like about this kitchen..... 1st the windows, 2nd the cabinet doors, 3rd the backsplash,

4th the pot and pan draws

Favorite real-life bedrooms from Better Homes and Gardens

2011-12-23T08:50:00.000-06:00

I love the straight and clean lines. The window is fabulous!!!!

I chose this picture because of the bedding.

Im assuming this is in a loft. I love the wood floors and brick walls!

This room has so many great things. Look at the ceiling... those are beautiful. I also like the office off to the side.

Christmas Stockings

2011-12-17T20:55:00.003-06:00

I did the embroidry on these stockings for a co-worker. She found the stockings at Pottery Barn and they are really a classic look. However, we had to take them apart to embroidry them. I love the all white.

Christmas Wreath

2011-11-21T16:41:00.001-06:00

Made this wreath for a christmas.

2011-10-06T18:04:00.002-05:00

Chloe had to wear an advertisment to Cotillion. She loves duct tape, so guess what to wanted to wear???? I made the dress by making the tape into fabric. 1st: I used and old sheet and figured out how much fabric I needed for each part of the pattern. Cut the fabric to smaller sections and cover with duct tape. 2nd: Pin the pattern to the duct tape and cuut it out. 3rd: Attach the sections of the dress together by using duct tape. 4th: Hem and finish all edges with duct tape. 5th: put your dress on your model and tape the dress together with duct tape. I made a belt because the dress didnt have much shape to it. I thought it added a nice touch!!

Summer pictures of kids and cousins

2011-07-17T13:53:00.000-05:00

Finally finished the 8th Grade Banner.

2011-07-13T15:03:00.000-05:00

Summer Sewing....

2011-06-26T15:24:00.000-05:00

Finally got my machine fixed. They suggested that I have it serviced every 6 months. I got the service plan when i bought it, why not. Ok, so things I never finished..... 8th grade banner, teacher gifts, friend gifts, 12 months of head bands, and anything that can be sold at the beginning of school. Now I have to get motivated.

Broken Machine

2011-06-05T10:04:00.000-05:00

In the middle of embroidrying the 8th grade banning, my machine decides to quit. I had to send it to the store to get fixed!!! I felt so bad that I couldnt get it done for graduation. The Babylock store told me it would take at least a week to get it back. So no sewing going on here......

New gift ideas

2011-05-22T16:55:00.000-05:00

Personalized Towel Wrap

Personalized Towel Set

any sewing going on???????

2011-05-14T08:54:00.001-05:00

I haven't done any sewing in a while. I am going to start the eight grade banner for our graduates this year. They were my very first class when I started at St Vincent. It will be sad to see them go. I will post pictures when I am finished.

Chloe's Musical

2011-05-14T08:33:00.000-05:00

Chloe and her friends as cheerleaders in the 3rd, 4th, 5th grade musical

Great Job

A Fabulous Easter Weekend

2011-04-24T20:55:00.002-05:00

My Wonderful Family

Aunt Amy helping Braden decorate eggs

Daniele's birthday gift. I made it!!

Cousins decorating eggs

The Martin Family

Happy Easter!!!

2011-04-24T15:54:00.000-05:00

Christ has risen, Christ has risen indeed!!!! Pictures to follow soon!!

2011-02-19T17:49:00.000-06:00

This is the Happy Birthday banner I made for Chloe.

Business Cards

2011-02-13T10:40:00.000-06:00

I just ordered my first business cards. I am so excited. I used moo.com. It is a great resourse. It was even fun to put everything together. I could upload my own pictures or choose from many many of their pictures. It was very easy to use. Check it out.

Finished birthday bags

2011-02-13T08:55:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Chloe's birthday party. It went great!! The bags that I made for the girls were a hit. I think more of a hit with the moms than the girls. I talked with a couple of the moms about doing som work for them and with them. I need to think about how to get my ideas out there. First I need business cards. Use my blog as advertisment. Pricing?????? Thats my big problem, I have no clue.YOU MUST HAVE A PLAN. I hear my father in the back of my head..........

Snow Day and Chloe's 11th Bday

2011-02-09T22:16:00.002-06:00

Birthday Bags

2011-02-09T20:32:00.000-06:00

This bag was made for my cousins daughter. The bag is made out of fabric for rain coats. It feels great. I ended up making 14 bags for all the girls attending Chloe's party.

I also made a "Happy Birthday" bunting. It turned out great. Ill post pics later.

Thanksgiving Hiking

2010-12-06T19:31:00.002-06:00

Braden and I on a
giant dragon

It was very cold

Me, Chloe, Braden, Amy (cousin/sister) her husband Kert, and kids Daniele and Bryce

Hiking through a cavern. Braden is refusing to walk. Kert and the other kids are hinking above us.

The Fabric I WON!!!!

2010-12-06T19:22:00.000-06:00

Thank you for my beautiful fabric from "House on Hill Road" blog.

Family Pictures at Tanyard Creek

2010-10-30T19:24:00.001-05:00

winning

2010-10-23T09:35:00.000-05:00

I havent posted in forever... I have had several things to post but havent put the pictures from the camera to the computer. (a Jeff job). I know I need to learn. Anywho... I have gotten lucky with winning some great things on some blogs I follow. I won some fabulous fabric from House on Hill Road. She was so good to put colors and patterns together that I fell in love with. My second win was from Bright, Bold, and Beautiful. I won $100 to CSN stores. I ordered things from there yesterday. I ordered 3 things for school and a great iron candle holder. I will post pictures ASAP. I must go sew. I have a bunch of people order embroidry, headbands, and other things.

Fair Fun!!!!!

2010-08-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

Goodbye to my Pappy....

2010-08-06T18:26:00.000-05:00

This morning my last grandparent died. Pappy, as my children called him, was a great man. He was a man of the Lord. He always put God first in his life. He wasnt always a christian. One of my favorite story told about him was when my father left for Vietnam. Pappy prayed to God and promised him that if he brought my father back alive he would follow God the rest of his life. He kept that promise. He had nothing and always gave everything. Pappy we will miss you. May you rest iin the Lord. He picture is on my post from Father's Day.

trouble with the sewing machine.....

2010-08-04T20:17:00.000-05:00

I was in the middle of a project (towel wrap) and the bobbin goes all wacky. Its now out of sync and will have to be fixed by a professional. Not real happy about that.

Ideas for a screened porch

2010-07-31T16:37:00.000-05:00

Happy Independance Day!

2010-07-03T20:24:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all who serve, have served and to those who gave their lives for our freedom!!!

Late Happy Father's Day

2010-06-23T20:39:00.000-05:00

Great fathers!!

Great Idea!

2010-06-23T20:27:00.000-05:00

This is a great idea to create a wall. It would be so easy.

Vacation!

2010-06-15T21:36:00.000-05:00

Loving the beach. Not too much oil evidence and very little tar balls. After Obama visited the cleaning crews were out in great numbers. The house we are staying in is awesome! I love my in-laws. Thanks for the great vacation!!!

GREAT find.....

2010-05-30T09:08:00.000-05:00

I found an awesome fabric store while visiting a friend. Its called "The Stichin Post" in Little Rock. All the fabrics that I have learned about through the great blogs, I had the chance to see first hand. Michael Miller, Heather Bailey, and Anne Marie Horner. I couldn't decided what to purchase. They were all great. I did buy a muted teal small check and a very small print muted teal, light and dark brown. I wanted to make something for Braden. I will post pictures when I return home.

2010-05-20T21:09:00.000-05:00

Check out the book giveaway at Stash Books

All four Stash Books titles being released this spring have arrived in our warehouse, and we are celebrating by doing a Stash Books giveaway! One lucky blog reader is going to win a sweet prize pack that includes:

■Socks Appeal by Brenna Maloney

■City Quilts by Cherri House

■Little Birds by Design Collective

■Me and My Sewing Machine by Kate Haxell

Visiting my favorite blog....

2010-05-20T20:25:00.000-05:00

My favorite blog is Brabourn Farms. They are on the other side of the world. beautiful place and great inspiration.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T20:27:00.000-05:00

Why cant I say "NO!"

2010-05-09T20:21:00.000-05:00

I have volunteered to make an eight grade graduation banner. I have spent 5 hours today trying to create the banner. I am embroidrying a scripture at the bottom. Each student has picked a fabric and cut out their hand. I will applique those on and then embroidry each students name by their hand. I embroidried the first line of the scripture and it took about four hours. I have two lines to go. I am very frustrated!!!

On a different note, I found some pictures of things I might consider for the fall boutique.

crazy ideas

2010-05-04T19:30:00.000-05:00

My mom and I went to a craft boutique a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to see what was the popular thing going. It seemed to be the "pillowcase dress". I inquired into their fall show and was told that I could sign up. I was trying to figure out what kind of things I could make. One thing I would like to do is fabric covered buttons (with embroidry letters) both pins and loop backs. Im not sure what else I would want to put into a collection that would be different and still make money......

Awesome beds...

2010-04-20T19:01:00.000-05:00

I found these beds on a post about "twins" from Heidi Claire's blog. I fell in love with them. Something about things hanging form the ceiling. I want to have one of these on my porch!!!

No Time For Sewing

2010-04-13T18:17:00.000-05:00

I check all my favorite blogs everyday, but lately havent had anything to share on mine. I have been quite busy at school and with Chloe and softball. I havent sewn for several weeks. I have several things that need to be finished.... all the pillowcase dresses going to Haiti, gifts for friends, Ok I lied.. I sewed my first pair of pants last Saturday for an event I was attending but didnt wear. Well happy sewing to everyone.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T18:32:00.001-05:00

Christ has Risen Indeed!!!

2010-03-27T19:55:00.000-05:00

2010-03-27T19:54:00.000-05:00

So enjoyed the sun today. Like always it is a tease. I was looking forward to mowing the yard and I started and the rain started. Hear are some Easter pics we took yesterday.

2010-03-20T10:26:00.000-05:00

Off to find fabric for monogramed pillowcases and towels. I have decided that I am going to cut the pillowcase altogether and then sew them. I think that they will go faster. We will see how that works.

Sunshine??????

2010-03-17T19:14:00.000-05:00

I truely believe that God is punishing me for something. I havent seen the sun in ages. I have been to two funerals this week. Its been quite depressing. I want to sew but cant get motivated to go in there and do it. Hopefully over spring break I can get some sewing done. I will take some pictures of some of the dresses then. Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

A yucky Saturday.....

2010-03-13T19:13:00.000-06:00

This morning I found out that one of our student's mother died of cancer. The children were in 2nd grade and pre-k. I just cant imagine the fear, loneliness, the sadness that these children are feeling. The last two day have had two friends ex-husbands are tormenting their children. Whats sad is that neither care about the children, its all about control. This all makes my heart ache.

I did sew today. I got four dresses done and bought a bias maker. They turned out really cute.

2010-03-08T19:51:00.000-06:00

One dress down and bunches to go. It only took about 30 minutes to finish. I also go several bags of pillowcases today. woo hoo!!!

Nothing done....

2010-03-07T19:32:00.000-06:00

Spent time with great friends helping them clean things out. We had dinner with my parents for Chloe's birthday (even if it was in February). Great comfort food and our favorite red velvet cake. YUM!!! I will try to sew after school tomorrow.

cleaning

2010-03-06T20:32:00.001-06:00

spent most of the day washing linens and straightening up. I dont think I got much done. Going to try and sew tomorrow.

1st real sewing project

2010-03-04T19:46:00.003-06:00

I made a baby dress. After taking it apart several times, I finally finished. I used linen on the skirt part and the ruffle and bow are paisely. (and a gerber onesie) Thanks to Stephanie at bare foot in the kitchen.

2010-03-03T19:52:00.001-06:00

I have receive several really cute pillowcase this week. I can wait to start sewing. I need to check Salvation Army and Helping Hands to see if i can find more.

2010-02-28T20:16:00.001-06:00

www.littledressesforafrica.org

This site has some great pictures of the girls with dresses.

pillowcases...

2010-02-27T14:44:00.002-06:00

I thought I would see if our really neat flea market had any pillowcase. I found several and some great fabric remnets also. As I was checking out the lady ask what I was making with the pillowcases... I told her about the dresses and that I was sending them to Haiti with Jeff in May. She asked if I would like some more. Of course, was my answer. She is bringing some that she had on Monday. I was so touched. Some people really do care and have hearts. :)

Great Idea

2010-02-27T08:55:00.002-06:00

As i am checking my favorite blogs, I am watching "Sewing With Nancy" Yes i have become a sewing nerd. Anyway she had a guest on that started making pillowcase dresses for little girls in Africa. Wouldn't it be a great idea to make as many as possible and send with Jeff to Haiti? The lady also made shorts for the boys. Since my mother-in-law is the only person that really actually reads my blog, Linda start looking for cheap pillowcases or ask friends to donate some.

Sewing Saturday

2010-02-27T08:30:00.001-06:00

I am going to try sewing several of the ideas that I have found on great blogs. We will see what I come up with.

2010-02-24T17:55:00.002-06:00

I love the curtins in this picture. This is how i want our porch. Screened and then mosquito netting on the inside.

Sick kid....

2010-02-24T08:29:00.002-06:00

Braden has been running a fever for two days. How do you know when to take them to the doctor? He has a tight cough and a lot of congestion. When all else fails call your mom. She says go to the doctor.

Found some necklaces that are great. Thought I would share. There are many sites that have simular things. I like this one.

2010-02-21T09:23:00.000-06:00

Well the rain has arrived. I was very productive yesterday. Straightened up the garage, posted clothes on the computer to go to the consignment sale, iron half the clothes and did half the laundry. I also spent some time puting together a tutorial book. (things that I want to make or "how to" items) Im still trying to find ideas for the porch. When cleaning the garage I found a box that I had put fabric and hanging candle holders I bought on sale at the end of last summer. I had forgotten all about it. Yea!!! I am being put on a strict budge so things I have well help to put things together. I just dont know where to start.

Beautiful Day!!!

2010-02-18T17:42:00.001-06:00

The weather is tempting us. It is beautiful outside. Sunny and 60. All kids have become crazy...

chloe wasn't home

2010-02-17T18:37:00.000-06:00

The girls played with the American Girl Dolls over the weekend. When we left for Mass Braden play also. :)

2010-02-15T19:31:00.001-06:00

2010-02-15T19:25:00.000-06:00

I found some tables that might work in the dinning area.

2010-02-14T21:28:00.000-06:00

Well we survived the birthday sleepover. Thank you to my best friend Julie, Bailey and Alex. Thanks for laughing with me at my crazy daughter and her friends.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Back to the real world tomorrow.

2010-02-13T22:59:00.001-06:00

I have six, 9 and 10 year olds sleeping in my living room. We have braided hair, played Dance, Dance Revolution and Karoke, ate pizza and ice cream cake, sprayed each other with silly string and danced with glow sticks. What else can a girl want?????? I forgot how loud that age of girls can get. I just hope that she had a great birthday. I will post pictures later.

2010-02-10T20:10:00.000-06:00

I am loving these porches. I so want a screen porch this summer. I also love the swings. I have gathered several fabrics to cover the cushions, make pillows and curtins. Yes, Ive been told that I am an over achiever. I need to focus on ONE project at a time.

No School!!

2010-02-09T07:04:00.000-06:00

The Public School District didnt call school until 6:30am. We (Chloe and I) were already showered and dressed. Oh well, I have tons to do today. Clean, sew, and celebrate Chloe's 10th birthday. A little after 9:00am she was born. Such a beautiful child that God gave me.

2010-02-07T20:44:00.000-06:00

WAY TO GO SAINTS!!!!!!!!

Chloe Singing in Mass

2010-02-07T15:17:00.000-06:00

Chloe singing in Mass.

We were very proud of her!!!

She is the one in the middle in pink.

2010-02-06T19:43:00.000-06:00

Since I wasn't feeling that great today, I spent a lot of time on line. I looked at some options for my dining area. It is such a small space. I like the idea of a bench against the wall and two chairs on the other side. Here are some idea I found.

2010-02-06T09:35:00.000-06:00

The Girlscout "A Night With Your Princess" was last night. Chloe was beautiful. We ended up choosing the bought dress because I wasnt please with the one I made. She was disappointed but still looked great. Her Nana was so good to ger her flowers to wear. I have to start remembering things like that. We curled her hair and it looked wonderful. I wish I was a better seamtress. I tried to find a pattern to help me make her tutu skirt but couldnt find what I wanted. I just need to practice more. I should have paid more attention to mom when she was sewing.

tutu

2010-02-04T21:51:00.000-06:00

Well I just finished making Chloe a tutu for her "Daddy Daughter Dinner and Dance". I bought a back up just in case. I even put sequins and a ribbon on it. I will post pictures tomorrow night. I am so ready for the cold and snow to go away!!! It is starting to depress me. I am ready to see the trees start to have that new green hue to them. Till tomorrow.......

2010-02-02T16:21:00.000-06:00

I forgot it was Groundhog Day!!! Bad news for us.. thanks Phil!!! I dont know if I can stand another 6 weeks of winter. Besides..... he saw his shadow before the sun was up central standard time. Whats up with that? There's no way the sun was up where he was either!!!

Today was like a Monday!!

2010-02-02T16:12:00.000-06:00

After being home Friday and again on Monday for snow, today was crazy at school. I have never crammed so much curriculum into one day. I felt sorry for the kids, but they always rise to the occasion. Tomorrow is "Dinning with Dad" for Catholic Schools Week. I hope all my kids have someone to go to lunch with. It is so sad when at the last minute we are trying to find someone for them to sit with. It breaks my heart. One of the kindergarten teachers was explaining how wonderful it is to attend a Catholic school compared to a public school. It was nice to see the kids responses to her. (Prayer, crosses, God, Love, Mass) I have taught for 7 years at a Catholic School and I am blessed every day that I walk through the doors. It's nice to be able to stop the class when we are having a hard day and just pray. Thank you Lord for all your blessings!!

2010-01-31T15:07:00.000-06:00

So I have spent most of the day in the warm bed playing on my blog. This is what it looks like outside. Braden doesn't like anything getting on his frog boots.

2010-01-31T14:16:00.000-06:00

some more....

things I made

2010-01-31T14:07:00.000-06:00

Here are some things that I have made for school or for my daughter and her friends.

snow, snow, snow......

2010-01-31T13:29:00.000-06:00

Another day of cold and snow. Spent the morning hanging posters at school for Catholic Schools Week. Jeff did a great job printing for me. I am still trying to add things to my blog. I am still learning how to do things.

I'm blogging!!!!

2010-01-30T12:19:00.000-06:00

Today I have created my blog. I still have things to add but the basics are in place. My children have played in the snow and I still have a lot of sewing to do for my daughters birthday.