Thankful Thursday: First 2012 Edition

Hello everyone! It's our first Thankful Thursday post of the new year. We both hope you're all doing well with your New Year's resolutions. However, I wish so many people didn't clog up my gym at the beginning of every year! Haha, just kidding - I want you all to be fit, just not all at one time! :)

Anyway, today is 1.5.12. That date might seem insignificant to you, but to us it's super duper important. This date is our little JJ's birthday!! When JJ was born, I was actually babysitting for a woman who was having a scheduled c-section on the same date. I snuck away from my day job to see B and JJ in the hospital and then once I was done babysitting, there was no way you could get me away from my JJ. :)

In case you haven't noticed: Brandi is JJ's mom, life-giver, caretaker, kisser of booboos, and Meig (me) is JJ's godmother, Auntie, tickle-friend, and snuggle buddy. JJ is a pretty important part of our lives. All my nieces and nephews are important to me (I have seven of them), and each one of us has our own little thing. I love every one of them equally and separately. I love them all together.

Me with JJ in the hospital the day after she was born. Look at all that hair!!

Today I am most thankful for the gift of godmotherhood, though. For the chance to experience something so much more than being an auntie. Who knows if I'll ever be a mom. I'm not betting on or against it. I'm letting the cards fall as they may, but for right now I've got loads of little people in my life that I love just as much as I would if they were mine. I've also got the opportunity to have a special connection with JJ. She and I sit and laugh together for hours (ask B, I'm sure it gets annoying). Whenever she sees me, she runs to me. She gets excited to know she gets to spend time with me (and I get excited to spend time with her!).

Before she was born, B and T said that JJ and I could do swimmy lessons together. That would be our time together. It was so much fun. Not only did JJ learn to trust the water, but she learned to trust me. She learned that Auntie Meig will be there all the time. She learned that no matter what, I will always give hugs and kisses. She learned that she can depend on me. Those lessons were more than swimming lessons, they were trust lessons and I'm so grateful that I got to be a part of that. I can't wait for our next round of lessons when she learns to jump off the side of the pool into my arms!! EEE!!! (Oh, B, you weren't supposed to read that...heh.) I wouldn't trade a single minute of her life for anything. She's my princess. My doll baby. My goddaughter.

Photo by Suzy Forshey Photography

Thank you, Brandi and Tony for giving me the best gift anyone could ever get. I'm so blessed to have you in my life and have the joy of your child. Being her godmother just makes it that much better.

Happy birthday, princess (even though you can't read this or know it exists yet - maybe someday you'll read it). Auntie loves you. <3

Linking up here:

A Patchy Pouch

This is a birthday present for my sister-in-law. She likes patchwork stuff and I chose fabrics that remind me of her style.

So what do you need? A pile of scrap fabric, and a zipper.

I cut the scraps into  3x3 squares. 24 of them.

I also cut 2 pieces of fabric 3x9. These are for the top band around the bag.

 Now to sew all these little pieces togther. First arrange them on a flat surface so that you can decide which pieces will be next to each other, you don't want the same fabric next to each other.

Put right sides together and sew down one side.

Open it up and it looks like this

Repeat this process until you have 4 in a row

You should end up with 6 rows of four

Decide how you want your rows to line up, there will be 3 rows for each side of the bag.

 Right sides together and sew

After I had both of my side pieces sewn together I did some decorative stitching, random swirls on both pieces of patched fabric. This is totally optional ofcourse.

Now, decide which side of your fabric will go at the top and sew a basting stitch across the top

Pull the back string so that each square along the top is bunched up a bit

You don't want to pull it too much, just until it measures 9 inches long. And do this to both pieces of patched fabric.

With right sides together pin a band piece to the top of each patched piece like this

Sew along the top about 1/4 in seam allowance, you want to make sure  you dont let the basting stitch show on the other side.

It looks like this when opened up

Now lay each piece on top of the fabric you want to use for the lining, cut the lining fabric to match the size

Time to add the zipper, unzip the zipper half way. Layer it like this: patch fabric right side up, zipper facing down and lining down

Sew together.

When you open it up it'll look crazy like this.

Fold the lining piece under

Now to sew the other sides to the zipper, layer it the same way as you did the first time, just on the opposite side.

Open it up and it looks like this.

Now put right sides together, pin and sew all the way around

Except leave a 2 in hole in the lining

Turn it all right sides out

Find the lining hole and sew it shut

Stuff the lining inside and thats it!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and expect more patchwork stuff in the future!

Did you see were featured on Reduce, Reuse, and Upcycle  for our Pillowcase Apron tutorial?

You should definitely check out that site if you never have, lots of great stuff over there!

P.S. I love these slippers Meighen made me! even though I ruined my suprise by checking the blog on my lunch break... oops! Julie had to sneak her little chubby toes into the pic too :)

Made it Monday - Owls and The Jen Hat!!

Hello and Happy New Year! I hope you're all having a great new year so far and living up to all your resolutions. ;)

This weekend I took things really easy. I stayed in most of the time and spent some time with my family. I really enjoyed my time off. Because of that, I got to start and finish a new project! I'm so glad that Brandi is at work right now so it won't spoil the surprise for later. :)

I got this pattern on Ravelry and I love it! It was so easy to follow and so fun to do! I hate the yarn that it calls for (Caron Simply Soft) because the threads pull apart so easily on the hook, but I adore the finished product so much that it's worth it. I made one pair for Brandi (the pink ones, duh) and one pair for myself.

Another thing I'm excited about is The Jen Hat. This particular hat is destined for my friend's head, but you can buy your very own in our shop. With this hat comes a donation to the Jennifer Merendino Memorial Foundation to aid cancer patients (read more about her story here). Each purchase will result in $15 donation to the fund. Not only are you getting a handmade item, but you're getting the opportunity to share a monetary gift that will help those who are in pain and in the most need. This hat is wearable by men or women. It's got a bit of the 'hipster slouch' going on so it's great for those of us with pony tails or teens. It's made with acrylic/wool blend yarn and is super warm.

What have you been up to lately??