More sewing! Amy Butler Bags

I started buying Amy Butler patterns a few years ago, but had never made any of them. After making the cushion covers for my sofa (previous post), I felt like I could sew anything! So I make the Weekender Bag. The fabrics are nowhere near a pretty as Steph's at craftaholic.blogspot. Her bag is absolutely to die for! But those fabrics are no longer available, and I just went to JoAnns. Her bag is an Amy Butler fabric from a previous line. I made mine in one day. I had a deadline because I was leaving for Tennessee the next day and wanted to use it.
I took the supplies for the Sophia Carry All with me, and I made two while at my sister's house (one for her 11 year old daughter- maybe she'll get me a picture so I can post it). Mine is in an Amy Butler fabric from the Nigella collection and the other was in a home dec fabric that my sister had (it is cute).


Sophia Carry All


Weekender Bag


The Sophia Carry All is somewhat big for a handbag, but it is great for church and toting all the things I need for the kids! This kind of gives a size reference.

Sofa Slipcover (for Catherine)

Here are 2 views of the sofa. As you can see, I am still not done. This slipcover is made from denim in Natural. I started this, oh, about, hmmm, over a year ago. We'll see if I get it done in another year or so. Actually, I plan to finish it in the next month or so. It's pretty much just the skirt that I have left to do.

Natalie's (Rock Band) Birthday Party

Yesterday was Natalie's 2nd birthday. We had some friends over to eat cake and ice cream and play Rock Band on the Playstation 3. What a blast!


Natalie is already a rock star!


Chase playing guitar.


Denver and Chase playing the drums.


Josh playing guitar.


Natalie crashing Thomas and Diesel 10.


Natalie just before she blew out the candles.

Pictures with Aurelia

Isn't Aurelia lucky to play on such a beautiful piano? She played beautifully!


Aurelia and Me!


Here's Chris! (Aurelia's boyfriend)

Pictures from Catherine's House

Alona and Chloe were putting on lipstick.


Isn't Sophie so adorable!


Grandpa and Sophie


Sydney and Hunter


The three cousins(all born in 2003). There is a picture of them lined up in car seats,all just a couple months old, laying around here somewhere.


Sydney's Cake.


Dad's Cake.


Anna's Cake. (we actually just passed the same cake around to them all)

March Travels

I decided to start traveling before Spring Break this year. On the 8th, Alona, Natalie, and I left for Tennessee. We visited Catherine (my sister) for 10 days. We wanted to go before Natalie turned 2 so she could fly for free. It was so much fun. Ruth and her two kids, Sydney and Hunter, came on the 15th along with Dad, Anna, and Morgan. On Sunday evening we celebrated Dad, Anna, and Sydney's birthdays. They were all that week, so we did them all at once while we were all together. It was fun to have all three girls together. Alona, Chloe, and Sydney are only a couple months apart in age. Catherine's baby Sophie is so adorable. She was getting a tooth and it was a little rough for her for a while.
We flew home on Tuesday and Wednesday morning I left bright and early for Utah to visit Aurelia (another sister). She was having her Sophomore piano recital and I wanted to be there. I went alone this time. She is so blessed to have so much talent. She plays beautifully. I got to see Grandma, Uncle Paul and Aunt Katy, PaulPaul, Daniel, Julia, Nicole, Aunt Roxanne, Cynthia, and Becca (another sister) and her husband and kids. We made cream puffs for the recital and served strawberries and ham, cheese, and rolls along with them. The cream puffs were a real hit. We went to Paul's place afterwards for crepes. Yum! We played Psychiatrist with the cousins and it was so much fun. One of our problems was we spoke with an accent when one person crossed her legs. It took Becca quite awhile to figure that one out. It was so fun! Even Aurelia's boyfriend and his friend enjoyed it.
I will post pics from my travels in a day or so.

The Oregon Coast

We went to the coast this weekend with some friends. It was about 44 degrees, but it was beautiful. It was almost 7pm by the time we got there. The sun was just starting to go down and we got some beautiful pictures.