artsy-crafty babe

I'm hungry!

Having gestational diabetes SUCKS!!! I am starving on this diet. Not the 'i-think-i'm hungry' feelings, but 'somach-growling-so-loud-the-person-sitting-next-to-me-can-hear-it' HUNGRY. I'm following it though, as grumpy as it makes me.

This whole GD thing really has me down. I've only been testing my blood sugars and following the diet since yesterday, but I'm already having trouble keeping my numbers in range. Hopefully I can get my numbers under control and avoid having to take insulin shots.

Yesterday at my diabetic counseling I learned that I didn't barely fail, I royally flunked the 3 hour glucose test. This condition has definitely gotten worse since the last time I had it, which also bothers me. I knew that having GD increased my chances of developing type 2 diabetes down the road, but I'm starting to believe that it is definitely in my future. It is more crucial now that I get back to a healthy weight and eat right after having this baby. I don't think it will be all that hard after following this diet for 3 months, I should already be in the groove.

Of course the counselor mentioned stillbirth, something a pregnant woman does NOT want to hear. I never understood why having GD increased the chances, but now I know. I didn't realize having a big baby is such a risk. Yes, the changes are quite slim, but it's still something to worry about.

Oh well, sorry for the whine. I'm hungry and grumpy. *boo hoo wah wah* I'll be eating supper in a bit, that should cheer me up.

Social Weekend

It was quite a weekend for a homebody like me. Most of my weekends are spent at home doing not much of anything except crafting and cleaning when the kids let me.

It all started Friday night with a Bead Retreat party. It was okay. I went mainly to see what it was all about and spend a crafty evening with other ladies. I made a bracelet and ordered a few things. Since I've already made jewelry, the most interesting thing to me was the catalog which was full of ideas. Nothing to write home about, but I did enjoy an evening doing something different. The picture to the left is the bracelet I made, but I used the catalog pic because there's no way my crappy camera could capture it.

Saturday morning we went out for breakfast then I took off with Lily to Hancock's for their sale. I spent less that $8. Their fabric selection isn't all that great. I did pick up some old buttons for $0.10 a card and bought some other buttons that were half off. If I had been smart enough to read the sale flyer before I checked out I would have bought some other notions that were also 50% off. At that point I was tired and Lily was driving me up a wall. It was time to go home for a nap.

Saturday afternoon we had two birthday parties to attend. We didn't make the first one because we were napping. We made it to the second one an hour late, and boy am I glad we went. One of the guys there was acting as bartender making all kinds of crazy drinks. Now that's what I call a party (not that I partook in any)! As the party wound down some of the couples decided that we should all go out to eat. We were game. It was a scramble for 4 couples to find sitters for all our kids, but we pulled it off. We all split up to take care of the kiddos, then met back at one couple's house to decide where to eat. On the way someone suggested this quaint little reataurant in the country, Roberto's Reatautant. It was so cool! It's in the middle of nowhere, on River Road which borders the Mississippi River. The restaurant is in an 1850's building that once housed a general store. The atomsphere was unique, the food was delicious, and the company was great. The only thing missing was cocktails for me! It is quite amusing being the only sober person at the table (not everone was drunk, but I was the only one not drinking). The topics of conversation were quite interesting. I'd share, but then I'd probably attract a bunch of weirdos to this site. Though I dreaded going to the party in the first place, it turned out to be a really fun afternoon and evening.

This same group of couples along with another couple have decided to form a supper club. Each family will take turns preparing a meal for the whole group at their house once a month. I must say, I'm really looking forward to it.

26 weeks

Time sure is flying - I'm already 26 weeks. As you can see, the belly is getting bigger. The scary part is that I still have a ways to go. Just in case you're wondering, I do have enormous kids.

You can check out the full progession here.

For all who were wondering, we don't know the sex of this baby and don't plan to find out. I'm feeling 'boy', but I was wrong both times with other two.

boring you with the details...

If you don't care much for decorating, them move right along. I'm sure this post will bore you to tears. My latest thoughts have been about my bedroom. It is way past due for an update. We've had the same bedding since we got married over 8 years ago. Since we moved into our current house (almost 2 years ago), I haven't done a thing with the room other than move the furniture around a few times. It is time to come up with a plan. I've decided to paint the walls the same color as the master bathroom, which is a pretty blue/green. Matt likes to call it "Miami Dolphin Green", but it is nowhere close to that. He sees colors totally different than I do. This room is my inspiration. I've found a brown toile to use as the curtains and my coverlet is an off white, so what I'm searching for now are the coordinating fabrics. I'm pretty sure I'm going do an upholstered headboard in a chocolate brown and a brown linen bed skirt. Hmm, that may be too much brown. I need fabrics for a skirted table next to my bed, two big 27" square pillows, and some various throw pillow. I'm planning to slipcover the chair next to my bed in off-white canvas. I'd like to find at least one fabric that has a bit of red in it (like the inspiration room) because my sofa in the adjoining room is red and this bookcase (pictured in the living room with the sofa) is in my room. Here are some images and fabrics that I've found. Who knows if I'll use any of these, but they get the wheels turning. None of these fabrics really blow me over, but they're some ideas. I know better than to shop for home dec fabric online - I need to see them in person. That toile is the one that I'm using. The only other fabric in the bunch that I really love is the floral. It's crewel. I think it would be great as a throw pillow for the chair. I think for the two big 27" pillows I'd like something similar to the swatch on the right, bottom row. That swatch looks too gold to me, but who knows what it looks like in real life. Gosh, I really need to get out to the home dec stores, I'm just too tired and have no time.

Oh, I also have some brown and white china that I plan to hang on the wall somewhere. Kind of like this, though my plates aren't that fancy.

Okay, I'm sure I've bored you enough. I just had to get these ideas out of my head and onto something that I could look at and ponder. Who knows if I'll do any of this!

**later tonight**
I've been doing some thinking - scratch the ideas above. I want simplicity. Some of those fabrics are too fussy. I'm going back to my original idea before I saw that inspiration room. I'm going to do simple, natural canvas drapery panels, bamboo shades and slipcover my chair in the same canvas. I have some Amy Butler fabric on the way that I ordered in a co-op back in August that should fit in. I've already bought that, so I really should use it. When I ordered it I had intentions of using it in my bedroom. I'll be using one of these, depending on what matches the walls best:

I'm gonna stick with a dark brown upholstered headboard and a neutral brown for the bed skirt. One of those fabrics will be used for pillows, maybe the two 27" square ones. I'd like to find some more textured neutral fabrics to mix in. I need to remind myself that I'm going for simplicity. Less is more. Oh, I'm still gonna do the brown and white plates on the wall. I also have some white pressed tin things to hang up as well.

If you've followed anything I've posted, good for you! I'm not sure I did ;)

One more thing...I had to share this picture I found while surfing around this afternoon:

This room is a little too 'country' for my taste, but it has green walls, brown toile curtains, and my exact coverlet on the bed (the off-white one folded at the foot). I can not tell you how much I love that coverlet. I've washed it a million times, so it is nice and broken in. I plan on using it in my bedroom for a looong time.

2006 Goals

It has only taken me most of January to compile this, but here is a list of things that I'd like to accomplish in 2006. Some are long term, some immediate. I'm sure this list will grow and change as time goes on.

General Crafting Goals:

• Track money spent on fabric/craft supplies.
• Set up specific time to craft/sew.
• Make money with my handmade goods.
• Finish my sewing studio.
• Make some jewelry, especially necklaces.
• Finish two paintings that I've begun.
• Experiment with paper and fabric cards.
• Participare in more swaps.

Sewing Goals:

• Berkley's duvet cover.
• Second String swap.
• Make a rag quilt for the baby.
• New purse for spring.
• Diaper bag.
• Skirts for me.
• Nursing tops for me.

House Goals:

• Finish the nursery: (bed skirt, coverlet, roman shade).
• Finish my bedroom: (paint, drapery panels, table skirt, bed skirt, pillows).
• Make a roman shade for the kids bathroom and paint walls.
• Lily's room: (repair pillows, cafe curtains).
• Start kitchen remodel: (refinish cabinets, new counter tops, new flooring).

Corner of my home

I've already posted this picture back around Christmas time, but it truly is a favorite 'corner of my home'. It doesn't exactly look like that today, as we no longer have the pointsetta, the ornament tree is covered with Valentine's ornaments, and there is a general pile of crap scattered all over the surface. As much as I hate to clutter it up, this is our catch all area. I keep a wire basket next to the lamp where I put all the mail and Matt usually throws his keys, wallet and any other what-not somewhere on the right side of the table. Under the table I keep two big baskets that are filled with toys. Rarely is the table suraface and area beneath the table neat.

I really love this table. It was one of the first pieces of furniture we bought. We used to use it as a dining table, but it isn't too comfortable. I don't know why, I think the height is awkward, or maybe it's the wide apron. This table is made from old fencing with landscape timbers as legs (which the cat loves to scratch). I love that it is all beat up and weathered. The green spray paint along the apron to the left is a nice touch. I always place the table to where that green paint is showing. This is a piece fo furniture that I can see having for a very long time. When we first purchased it I thought that I may use it as a desk someday. Maybe...

The black and white photos above the table are a recent addition. I plan to use this space to keep adding pictures of the kids. I hope to one day have the whole wall filled!

The lamp is one that belonged to my mother. I can remember it on the coffee table as a kid. It used to be brown with cream flowers and leaves sprawled across the front. The foliage was applied to the front. I can remember picking the tips of the leaves off. I'm sure it drove my mom crazy. When I was in college my mom passed the lamp down to me. I painted the base and gave it a new black shade (the previous shade was off-white). I've held on to it ever since.

You can check out other corners here.

Thrifty idea

Last week Sara at My Spare Time posted a rag quilt that she made as a baby gift. I was intrigued because I had never seen anything like that. It was an idea I filed away for later. But then in one of the magazines I bought for my 3 hour Dr. office ordeal was the instructions for what they called a "frayed-edge quilt", the same thing as Sara's rag quilt. Now the wheels were really turning. My problem is that I don't have any flannel in my stash, and I can't justify buying more fabric for a project that I might do. Yes, that's always how it is, I buy fabric with intentions of completing a project then never get around to doing it. Anyway, this morning as I was looking at yet more flannel online an idea dawned on me - I could use receiving blankets! I have a TON of those itty bitty flannel receiving blankets that don't fit my gargantuan babies sitting in the closet. I've never used those things because #1 they're too small and #2 I have babies in the late spring when we don't really need blankets. I think Lily has gotten the most use out of them with her baby dolls. Besides solving the flannel dilemma I've also solved another - these blankets are all gender neutral so I could if I wanted to make a blanket for the new baby that will be big enough to fit the kid when the cooler months roll around. Yeah! I'm so pleased with myself!!!

while waiting...

My wait in the Dr's office this morning was very productive. Those three hours flew by. Not really, but I did get something accomplished and was inspired by a new find. I finally started on my Second String swap. I appliqued a little figure to go on the front of my organizer. She is also the inspiration for the softie we're supposed to make. Isn't she sweet? I love the expression on her face. Don't worry, she will have hair - I haven't gotten to that part yet. I'm only showing you a clip, because if I showed the whole body it would give my partner away. That was the productive part. The inspiration part came from a magazine I picked up this morning. I found a magazine all about making cards, Card Creations, a special publication put out by Paper Crafts Magazine. It is so cool! This is a whole new world to me. There were so many ideas that I'd like to transform into fabric. I may finally get around to making some fabric cards or mini quilts. Now I want to rummage through all my scraps to find some bits to create with. I can't wait to get started! My second string swap partner may be the first to receive some of the soon-to-be card creations. I think the cards will fit perfectly in one of the pockets of the organizer.

Oh, I failed the 3 hour test. I officially have gestational diabetes. No biggie, been there done that! Now I get to visit with a nutritionist, get diabetic counseling, and prick my finger 4 times a day.

Did any of y'all catch the new show Love Monkey last week? I really like it. It comes on tonight on CBS, 10 pm ET/PT. Tom Cavanagh plays the lead as a record executive. I think it's pretty good, but then I'd watch it just to see Tom Cavanagh. If you're not a TC fan, then you've got to check it out to see how badly Jason Priestly has aged. What happened to that guy? I hardly recognized him. Love Monkey...it's fun to say!

Lucky Me

I got the call this morning that I failed my one hour glucose tolerance test. Now I get to take the three hour. Whoopee! I'll probably fail that one too. I had gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy. I only slightly failed by a few points, but it was still a failure. Managing it wasn't bad. I was able to control it with diet. As long as I ate enough protein my blood sugar was fine. If I fail again this time, hopefully I'll be able to manage it as easily as I did the last time.

Since I'll have three hours to kill in the Dr's office tomorrow, I'll need to load up on reading material (magazines), or I could start a new embroidery/applique project. I'll have to think about that one...

Another gown

Hello b00bs! That's what I see when I look at this picture. I think my chest wouldn't look so big if those cap sleeves weren't so small. I do NOT like those cap sleeves. Overall, I like the style of this gown. I made it using Kwik Sew 3066. It does have nursing access by lifting up the band under the bust. Next time I make this I'm going for longer sleeves and a shorter band (along with a stretchier fabric). Overall the fit is pretty good. I think this would be a great spring dress. Maybe I'll make one for Easter.

This is the last of my gowns for now. I'm ready to move on to 'real' clothes. But before I can do that I have some home dec projects to take care of. First on the list is a duvet cover for my niece. I've had the fabric for this forever. Before I lose my ability to crawl around on the floor I've got to get this finished. I feel guilty doing home dec projects around my own house with this hanging over my head for so long. This afternoon I got my lengths cut, which is the hardest part. Now it's time to start sewing. My window of opportunity to get all these sewing projects is closing - it's now or never!