Crafting for Christmas

*Not my photo: Flickr-Melanie Hughes

Our financial situation is causing me to get creative for Christmas. I’m actually enjoying the challenge.  John and I picked up a couple of things on Black Friday, but otherwise, we’re going to be making most of our Christmas gifts.

I am pretty excited about a project I’m working on for Rhys: felt food. I’m inspired by this Japanese site (click on the links and prepare to be amazed by the vast array of felt foods), though I assure you that mine won’t be nearly as fancy or diverse.

I’m also taking some inspiration from this awesome crafster, and this amazing crafter. Okay, now that you’ve seen all the links, you want some felt food for yourself, don’t you? I admit, the thought of playing with all that food is very exciting. I just hope I can pull off a few pieces by Christmas. And that Rhys likes them.

I’ll try and take some pictures of my finished products and showcase them next month. Plus, I have other homemade gifts in the works that are pretty fun as well. I haven’t done any crafting in a while, so this just makes me happy.

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time flies when you’re preparing for a baby

Where does the time go? I think of blog posts in my head all the time, but I hardly ever write them out. Lately I’ve been stressing out with work, church calling, and trying to get ready for our baby boy. Since multi-tasking is not my specialty, I am fairly disappointed in the results of most of the areas of my life.

But I am working on that. I have a friend who is a life coach, and she needs practice, so she is coaching me for free. I have wanted a life coach for a while now, but couldn’t actually afford to hire one. I’m hoping she will help me find my motivation and find a way to organize and balance all the areas of my life.

And preparing for the baby has really become a huge part of my life. (Maybe it will prepare me for when the actual baby is the huge part of my life…) I am doing a program called Hypnobabies, which helps you have a natural childbirth experience. However, this program requires an hour commitment from me every day. I basically have to listen to their hypnosis sessions, learning how to put myself in a hypnotic state, and learning how to create an anesthesia effect on my body. It’s exciting, but difficult to fit into my crazy busy days.

Then there’s the fact that we have decided to cloth diaper our baby. And not only that, I decided to MAKE cloth diapers for our baby. I am not sure what I was thinking, except the fact that cloth diapers are expensive. And disposable diapers are even more expensive. I have already made about 6 diapers, and they cost me pennies to make because I used old T-shirts and flannel sheets to make them. I recently bought some cute flannel fabric from JoAnn, so the next few diapers will not be as cheap. But they’re still cheaper than buying them.

Do you know how many diapers babies need? A lot. Apparently they can pee and poop their way through 10-20 diapers a day. So I’ve got a lot of diaper-making ahead of me, especially since the ones I’m making now are infant size. He will also need some bigger diapers for when he grows. I’ll post some pictures eventually of the diapers I make, because some of them are so cute!

Tonight is my baby shower, and I’m very excited. I can’t believe it’s that time already…

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be my valentine

I had a brilliant idea for Valentine’s day. I wanted to make something for John, and I came up with a great idea. I’ve been feeling crafty lately, so I decided I wanted to make him something homemade. I’ve also been working on a homemade painted card, and I’ll post a picture of it soon. It’s my first attempt at painting anything at all, so…let’s just say it’s a little primitive. But I’m proud of it.

So last night found me in Joann fabric, searching for the right fabric for the project and at the same time collecting things I would need — bobbins, pins, thread, etc. (I have no supplies for sewing at all.) This was all fine until I saw an ex-boyfriend. He’s the one that I am embarrassed to have dated. It just feels so awkward to see him. Not to mention that the last time we saw each other (at least a year ago ago), we both pretended we didn’t know each other.

This time, we were about two feet apart when we saw each other. By then, there was no way to pretend. We said hi, he’s getting married, blah blah blah. I felt so very awkward. Then he starts asking about my project, saying, “Come with me. Let me show you a few things.”

I did NOT want my ex-boyfriend to help me with my husband’s valentine present, nor did I want him giving me tips about fabric or sewing. Thank goodness my husband called right that moment. He was having a sort of emergency. So I said, “Good to see you. Congrats. I’ve gotta go.” And I left the store.

I tried two other stores for something cool or unusual. But nothing spoke to me at all. So you know where I ended up? The grocery store. I bought my valentine present at a grocery store. It’s not homemade. But there’s always next year, right?!! At least he gets a homemade card…

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looking at the bright side

I’ve had a bit of a bad week. Feeling a little better now.

I’m going to list some of the good changes going on in my life so far this year.

1. I made bread. Not for the first time (maybe the third time), but the first time that it tasted good. And boy did it ever! Sometimes, I’m a really good cook.

2. I go on walks and hikes with John. Our goal is three times a week, and we’re doing pretty good. Last Saturday we hiked in the White Tank Mountains. This week I think we’re going to try Papago Park. Being outdoors with the one I love really improves my mood. Winter in Arizona is so wonderful.

3. I sewed something. John gave me a sewing machine for Christmas, and I used it! I can’t wait to get better at sewing so I can try some of the projects I have floating around in my brain.

4. I’m still registered for the writing class…it starts January 17th. I’m still nervous, but still moving forward with it.

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