Creative Juices

 

My New Machine Doing It's Thing

I have been busy with my sewing machine this month.  There is much to be learned and I learn best by doing.  So all of these projects were first attempts.  They went mostly well, just don't look too close!  I thought I would share with you some of my latest projects. 

I made some Burp Cloths for my new Grand-Niece, Grace.    They were made with pre-folded diapers (yes they still make those) and flannel.  I pre-washed the diapers and fabrics since both shrink.  I hope Grace and her Mommy enjoy using them.

I also did a personalized applique on an apron for my sister Suzanne's 29th birthday. 

My daughter-in-law Amanda had a January birthday too.  She is a very talented photographer so I made her a camera bag with matching strap.  (Does the fabric look familiar?) It was a tedious project, lots of details, but really fun.  I hope she enjoys it.

Hopefully I will be sharing some new things soon.  Right now I an unable to create, my new machine seized up on me yesterday in the middle of a project.  Let's hope they can get it fixed soon!

I welcome comments and criticism.  I hope to be making some of these to sell soon.  Feedback on suggested pricing would be appreciated.  Julie



Technology

We had a great Christmas.  Erin and Wade were kind enough to host the Nokleby clan this year.  Everybody came to Dallas except Ryan.  He had an offer he couldn't refuse--a 3 week vacation on a private island in the Caribbean.  We all understood, but next year he had better show up, wherever we end up :) 

All counted there were 14 here, under one roof.  Thank goodness Erin and Wade have a wonderful house with 3 1/2 bathrooms!  (For those of you counting #14 was TJ sweet girlfriend Katie who come down from Oklahoma City for one night.)  Something else that was present here was a large number of modern communication/information devices.  There were 4 Macs, 5 i phones, 2 i pads, 2 laptops and 2 desktops, along with several "regular" cell phones.  I was unaware that using your phone just to make calls was so last year.

Watching my grandchildren using these was quite eye opening.  You would expect Drew to be able to run these machines, he just turned nine.  But watching Noah, 3 1/2 manipulate an i phone and an i pad is pretty amazing.  He knows how to play Angry Birds and Cut the Rope.  Pulling up videos on You-Tube is second nature to him.  He can do puzzles and listen to the alphabet accompanied by songs and teaching sounds as he goes.  Noah knows how to "pinch" to make the screen smaller and can expand it back just as fast. 

I'm not sure I even knew my colors when I was 3. 

I am grateful for all of these things.  They make keeping in touch so easy.  Do they even use the word "long distance" anymore?  I'm also grateful that we could slow down and enjoy being together.  Erin and I vowed not to spend the whole time cooking, heck I didn't even make homemade crescent rolls this year.  Some of us even worked a VERY difficult 1000 piece puzzle.

After all the craziness getting ready for the Holidays, I enjoyed just hanging out with my family.  I hope you got to do that too.

Julie

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my Dad's birthday.  He would have been 85.  He, like Mom left us too young, although a blessing because his physical body was worn out.  Mentally he had moved on too, Alzheimer's taking it all away.  The last time I saw him I left in tears.  It was so hard to see him like that. 

He died the morning before TJ entered the MTC, so I happened to be in town.  Lori and I were planning to visit him that morning.  I was glad I didn't have to visit him again, that he was now free of his earthly body and with Mom.

I have many great memories of my Dad.  I was his favorite, at least until Lisa and Lori come along.  I loved to go fishing with him.  I remember leaving VERY early (I hated that part) and stopping at the Hub in Heber for breakfast before heading up to Strawberry Reservoir.  I always caught lots of fish because he kept my line baited and ready for me at the expense of his own fishing. 

I remember trips to Yellowstone and the "Fun Farm" somewhere in Idaho.  I remember travelling behind the motor home all the way to Bryce Canyon, going the long way, very slowly.  I remember his beautiful lawn that was so soft to sit on, always the greenest on the block.  I remember when we were sealed in the Manti Temple, with all five of us children kneeling around the altar with Mom and Dad.

I wish I had had more talks with him about his life.  He never talked about the war.  I never heard too much about his childhood, his father, his grandparents.  I have bits and pieces of stories, not really sure which are true and which may have been "enhanced".

I loved my Dad very much.  I miss my parents, I wish they could meet my grandchildren.  I'm sure they are watching from above and know all about everything that is going on in my life.  Someday we will be able to have that talk.

Julie

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

I haven't posted for a while, I am way behind.  My last post was all about diet and exercise...ummm...more to come on that later.

We just finished a busy Christmas season around here.  I was especially busy during December trying to make my gifts thoughtful and as many homemade as I could.  In October I purchased a new sewing machine.  My old one (that is in storage) I have had since 1974.  It was the first thing I purchased after becoming a full time employee at the bank.  (I was making a cool $1.90 an hour)  This one is a fantastic new Viking Embroidery machine.  I found it on sale at a great discount!  It is way cool, and I have been learning a lot this past couple of months.  I know I should have taken pictures of all my projects, but somehow that didn't happen.  I did get a new camera for Christmas, so maybe I will figure out how to post pictures to enhance my ramblings.  Anyway, this past couple of months I have made:



Christmas Stockings



11  Christmas stockings

8  Christmas pillowcases

4 pairs of Christmas jammies

3 personalized aprons

2 sets of monogrammed towels

2 appliqued onsies

2 bags

1 appliqued t-shirt

1 flannel nightgown (with a matching one for Addie's new American Girl Doll)



Addie, Noah, Drew and Luke in their new jammies



I may be forgetting some, but you can see I have been busy and having a lot of fun!  I hope to post more often this year.  I hope I have fun things to post about.  To all my readers, (all 3 of you) Happy New Year, lets hope 2011 is great for all of us.

 Julie