Summer so far has been busy! We've had three birthdays in the family, two parties, dance festival, baby blessings, end of school party, zoo trip, baptism, and the regular day to day stuffola!

However, have no fear, the Sewing Friend has been busy, check it out:

Dishtowels (basically hemmed rectangles)Baby blankets

for baby Maci

for baby Amelia

for baby Oakley

Pioneer Trek clothing


Baptism dress
Sloane wore the same dress I was baptized in for the baptism (my mom made it), then changed in the new one I made. Sloane designed the dress, picking out the sleeve and bodice style, length, and trims. She was thrilled!

Knitting complete!!

Now that it's summer, Porter's hat is ready to go! Unfortunately his head also grew, but the hat turned out cute anyway. I added a little pompom on top and tied all my holes together, so it actually did turn out. However, I have bagged up my needles and left over thread for another day....Rachelle, need more knitting supplies?

Next on my to do list:

• Tops and skirts for me
  
• Summer dresses for the girls (skirt or pj shorts for me) out of stretch tie-dyed brown/pink jersey
• Family room pillows (they're already cut out) and valance
  
• Placemats (black and white)
• Quilt for Amelia (have everything except time)-but she only just turned 1!
• Sew something for YOU to feed my fabric habit (I do have a little time, my rates are pretty reasonable, and my work is excellent!)
  

My Favorite Birthday Presents

Sewing Errors

I bless the tired garment worker who erroneously put this tag in a skirt that fits me. No, seriously, they forgot a 1 in the tens place. No really, I've been running, but I'm NEVER a 2, EVER! (Plus, the icing on the cake is that I got this for $4 at the Deseret Industries-I love a deal!)

My GenesIf this is what I have to look forward to, bring it on!

My FlowersThis is in my front yard right now.

My People

I love my girls.
I love my boys.I love my man.
What was this post about? Oh yeah, it's my birthday (May 13th)! No need for presents (I've already got some, thanks!) but please send me a note and tell me how all of you are doing!

Where are you Sewing Friend?


(Lost among the piles of projects that is my sewing room/loft that I have to look at every time I go upstairs.)

My father sent me a not-so-subtle email telling me to update my blog. I haven't posted for awhile as The Sewing Friend because I thought about trying to be The Knitting Friend.

I was told "knitting is fun and easy" and "you can totally do it anywhere."

There is not supposed to be a hole there! And I knit in my marking hoop in by accident! At least the yarn is cute!

Not so much.

I really appreciate my friend, Rachelle, who knits amazing sweaters, for taking the time to teach me. Anyone need some size 3 circular and double point needles?

As for the mess above, I do have a lot in the works:

• mending/hemming/reworking clothes (my "going green effort")
  
• new valance/pillows for family room
• summer shirts
• summer dresses for the girls
• quilt for Amelia (she's 10 months old)
• quilt for Porter (he's 9 months old)
• making cut offs for the girls (reusing jeans, I'm totally green!)
  
• mending some of Lisa's pillows (see, I am a Sewing Friend)

But, when I asked my dad what to post he just replied, "Put up some pictures of your kids." So, here are some of our Easter dress (no, I didn't make them) photo shoot photos and some various other ones!

But don't let the "dressed up" exterior fool you, these girls can get dirty with the best of them as we did in Zion National Park over spring break.




But, most of our days are spent seeing how many My Little Ponies we can get into a Barbie car...

and how many smiles we can get out of this guy.

Now, who has time for sewing after all that?

Some "sewing friend" I am.

Sorry Bek about not getting back with you about fabric and patterns for quilts. Here's what you need to do:

1) CHOOSE PATTERN. For first-time quilters or time-stressed mothers, I would do as many straight strips as possible. An uncomplicated pattern still looks great with cute fabric. So you don't have to figure out amounts, buy a pattern or a book, then all you have to do is plug in your fabric choices. Check out free patterns here. Heather Bailey also has a cute quilt pattern and info on binding.

2) CHOOSE FABRIC. Go to a local quilting store. Go on a weekday afternoon without any children (tough, I know) so you can take your time. The easiest thing to do is look for fabric that you love (or the person the gift is for will love). Most fabrics are built in a collection, so pick three or four (or more) fabrics for the project. Get ALL the supplies now-don't forget fabric for backing, binding, thread, and batting!!!!! (Cotton batting is flatter, warm or polyester for more bounce/loft). Getting it all then will enable you to keep going once you're on a roll. (I get thread and batting at large fabric stores-Joann's or Hancock's because it's usually cheaper.)

Here are a few collections I love:
Anna's Drawing Room Collection
Amy Butler Midwest Modern
Sis Boom Mod Girls

(Sorry, I'm not good at posting photos that aren't mine-they always disappear!)

3) PREPARE FABRIC. I wash (with detergent) and dry all my fabric. Sometimes I wet and dry the cotton batting. This is to prevent shrinking and color bleeding. If you have dark colors (red, purple, brown, black) you must prewash so the colors don't bleed. If you want your quilt to pucker up either don't wash the lighter fabrics or don't wash the batting. I've had some neat results just not washing/drying the batting. I like to prewash everything and wash it again when it's all done if I'm making a baby gift because then it's ready for immediate use!

4) SEW. No shortcuts, you just have to sit down and do it.

5) FINISH. You do have to finish it. Check out this video from Simply Quilts Alex Anderson. Or, instructions here about mitering the binding.

Good luck!

New Year's Resolutions Part 2

Okay, so I'm not posting in a timely manner (#1) because I signed up on Facebook (#5). I'm not much lighter (#2), but I have until May 16th! I have been able to sleep more (#4 and #6), but not as consistently as I would like.

I still have to post a cool sewing project (#3) which I will before the end of the month.

Here's what I have been doing:

Skiing with the family.



Uno tournaments with the girls and Jonathan.



Making cinnamon rolls with some helpers (hey, at least the apron is being used!)



Is anyone inspired (#7) yet?

Happy New Year!

New Year Resolutions:
1. Post in a more timely manner. Like, all the stuff I made for Christmas.

Aprons for the girls (this was the big surprise with a Cupcake Maker):

So, it's apparently genetic because my mom made aprons for me and my sisters.

Covered notebooks for teachers:

Wallets for my girlfriends (some snapped, some had snappy buttons!):
I made about 1 billion, but didn't take pics before I gave them away.

I also made some doll clothes for Madame Alexander 18" dolls my girls have and a super sweet purse for my sister, Amanda, but I don't have pictures. Amanda, post a picture so everyone can see how cute it is!

2. Lose 20lbs. by May 16th. (Yes, I know it's hard to believe! there is 20 there to lose-I hide it well!)
I'm running a half marathon then and although my baby is ONLY 5 1/2 months old, I really don't want to buy a new wardrobe, so I'll just have to stop eating cookies (and brownies and coconut cake and shortening-laden banana bread and....) and start running again. Unfortunately, I'm in the beginning stages and it makes me tired and sore.

3. Post one cool sewing project a month.
I'd really like to have something original and creative and quick available once a month, but I may just have to link to something once a month. I'd like to learn how to make a PDF and have it pop-up to be a printed pattern. Anyone know how to do this quickly? Or, maybe I'll sketch something and scan it-any ideas on how best to share?

4. Sleep more than 4 hours in a row. 'Nuff said!

5. Get on Facebook. It may take until May to have this happen, but I want to be hip with the kids (plus, my entire family and high school is on it!)

6. Get more than 4 hours of sleep in a row. Uh, did I say that already?

7. Inspire you all to SEW MORE in '09!

Merry Christmas!

Hopefully, you have found my blog with our Christmas letter. If I didn't send you one, you just didn't get it yet as some won't be mailed until tomorrow! Check on it through the year for more family updates and fun sewing projects!


Jonathan works as a sales executive selling software. (This is open to the public, so I don't want to get too specific!) His true love (other than his family) are biking and skiing. He rides mountain and road bikes and skis in resort and in the backcountry. Jonathan teaches Sunday School for adults and works on the Activity Committee at church. He loves having so many "daddy's girls" and is thrilled to have a little boy.


Gina (I can't write in the third person) is happy to be a homemaker. I enjoy sewing (duh!), reading, and food/exercise in that order. I also enjoy a good nap but don't get that very often. I love watching the children grow and have new experiences. I hope to get skiing again this year and do at least one half marathon (yes, I am one of those people who mentions the running races they do!) I teach Relief Society and work on the Activity Committee at church.


Sloane (7) is in 2nd Grade. She still loves dressing up and comes up with the greatest outfits. She is very imaginative and loves to do crafts. She keeps asking me when I'll teach her how to sew. We have to tell her to go to bed every night because she is a sneaky reader in bed!


Sheridan (5) is in Kindergarten. She loves being able to sound out words and begin to read. She is a special helper with Porter and loves to make him laugh. Sheridan learned how to ride a bike this summer and she and Sloane take off around the neighborhood on little rides. She still giggles uncontrollably which is very contagious.

Sydney (3) is in a neighborhood co-op preschool. I teach the 6 little girls every 6th week. Sydney loves being a "big girl" and going to school. She cracks us up on daily basis with her facial expressions and quotable quotes, "I don't love that!" "What you say?" "You're nice mommy." She thinks she can read and earnestly looks at words and does her best. She just wants to keep up with her sisters.


Our most exciting news this year is the birth of our fourth child, and first boy, Porter Robert (5 months). Porter was born July 20, 2008 at 9 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. He is a happy, sweet baby. He has an infectious giggle. Porty Port Port loves his sisters and they love him. The difference between boys and girls is so distinct and a fun thing to witness.

Enjoy some images from the last year:

Thanks for all your cards and letters. We really feel blessed by such great friends and fabulous family. Even amid difficult times, we have hope through our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are truly blessed by a loving Heavenly Father. We hope you have a great Christmas and a New Year full of joy. We love you (even those I don't know!)