Tutorial: Heart Garland

Happy Valentine's Day! Over here, we're not doing much other than trying to get over a 3 week cold.  I have a terrible cough that isn't very attractive. On the decor front, we haven't done too much else with our new place. It's way too cold to do anything, even paint. And up until 5 minutes ago, I still had the Pom Pom Advent Calendar up with all of the Christmas cards we received.

This week was the 100th day of school.  Kiddo and I racked our brains trying to decide on what he wanted to do.  As Valentine's was coming up, I asked him if he wanted to cut out 100 hearts and I would help him sew it up.  I got "the look".  Truth be told, it was a selfish move on my part.  I really liked having the pom pom garland in our kitchen but it was time for that to come down.  If he was willing to do 100 hearts, then we'd have a nice garland once his teacher gave it back.

He decided on dry pasta coloured with food colouring for his 100th day.  Pretty, isn't it?

However, I still wanted a new garland.  Hence, little brother and I went to Michaels and picked up 6 pieces of felt. I wanted a colour combination that would last beyond the 1 day that is valentine's day. Hence, no red.

Then use a heart template + disappearing ink marker + scissors = lots and lots of hearts. I should've done the "math" to use up as much of the felt as possible. However, now I'm thinking of making a mini garland for upstairs. 

 

I played around with the colour combinations until I found something I liked.  Little guy decided not to nap and kept on re-arranging the colours.

Eventually I got tired of moving the hearts around...

I sewed them up using white thread. 

Then I hung it up in our kitchen.  Voila!  So simple and it really brightens up the place.

So far it has brightened my mood!

Happy Valentine's Day!

DIY: Making a Fort

We made a fort!!  The big kids at school built several of them and they inspired us to build our own.  Yesterday the warmer weather allowed us to chip off the remaining ice on our driveway and we used it today to build a mini fort.  

p.s.  I'm not really going to write a tutorial on how to build this.  Pretend you are a bricklayer.  That's how it's done.

Until next time!

Happy New Year and a Short Look Back at 2013

via http://funny2014.com

I can't believe 2014 is actually here.  To be honest, I still can't believe we made it to 2000!  When I was a little girl, my sister and I used to try to imagine what life would be like in the year 2000.  I envisioned that I would be in a high profile job and could wear high heels.  Fast forward to 2014 and my high profile job is taking care of my kids, my ETSY shop, and NOT wearing high heels.

So hats off to 2014.  I'm sure it'll bring lots of new adventures.  But before we leap too far ahead, here's a look back at some pretty significant moments in 2013.

1.  We sold our first family home.  I loved tiny bungalow but it was getting too small for our family.  So we said goodbye to the city and began our search for a new place.  We sold our home during a snowstorm and still had 10 offers!  Lots of memories in that little home that I will cherish!  Bye bye home!

2.  We bought our next home.  We moved north into the 'burbs.   We aren't too far from our old home but the added distance means we are far from the city's core.  So we don't head down to the AGO as much and we've traded in the Riverdale farm for Lionel's.  We also traded in a completely finished home to one that needs some additional TLC (when does it end!!!)  On the plus side, we also traded in neighbours we never saw to a neighbourhood full of kids.  So much so that even on a cold and rainy Halloween, the boys could still go trick or treating (knowing our street would be doling out the treats!).  I sewed new capes to go over the kids' winter jackets. 

3.  I sloowwweed down my ETSY shop and only did custom orders mainly for toddler backpacks.  I needed some time to think about the direction my shop was heading towards.  Between the move(s), I actually didn't have as much time to assess the shop so I will still be in think mode for 2014.  (I am still doing custom orders for my backpacks - just send me a note at joshandteo@hotmail.com)

4.  I attempted to start working on my mom's chair.  See the pic below for proof!  This is only significant because it was a new year's resolution for 2012 and again in 2013.  Needless to say, there will be no resolutions this year. 

5.  I had laser eye surgery!!!  It's something I've always wanted to do but didn't have the guts to do until my sister had her eyes done.  Yup, I'm a chicken.  I was soooo scared during the procedure (yup - even for the 30s per eye).  I am still trying to figure out if this was a good move or not because as soon as I had my eyes done, winter hit us hard.  I'm trying to heal my eyes during the DRIEST weather possible and it's not been good.  As I type, my eyeballs are starting to feel like little rocks in my eye sockets.

So as a result, I haven't been updated the blog as much just to preserve the eyes...

I missed posting a pic of Josh's birthday cake made by Popo

And then Popo's surprise cake

All the fun at museum class

And the numerous Christmas parades and parties we went to.

So as I look forward to 2014, I see lots of changes coming up.  Baby bunny starts school in Sept 2014 and both kiddies will be off making their way in the world.  I have no idea what I'm going to do but I'm sure my future will include more home renos and lots of sewing.

All the best to you all this year!  (Here's hoping there aren't any more power outages in 2014 due to the ice storm and please, no more scary frostquakes!!!)