"SEW" much to share!

Wow, where does time go? Are you wondering the same thing right now? Here we are 6 days into the new year already and I'm so far behind. I hope that's not how it's going to be the rest of the year. I haven't even put away my Christmas decorations yet, instead I am sitting at the computer getting caught up on all my blogging posts if you can't tell. I hope I'm not boring you. I want to share a couple more sewing projects I did this year for gifts. The first one was a joint effort with my sister, Tamara. She found these fluffy, fluffy white throws at Target and she wanted me to embrioder a big intital on them. I thought it would get buried in all the fluff so I talked her into appliqueing a fun, fabric letter on it instead. Look how cute these turned out. I did two for her and then I did one for Jacob's girlfriend, Angie.

A is for Angie

Then for my girls plus Angie I made these fun little travel jewelry cases. There are pockets all the way around to put your rings, earring and necklaces in. Then when you pull it tight everything stays in place. This pattern is in the same book as the other necklace keeper that I made. I'll find the book and post about it later if you think you might be interested in making either one of these.

I had necklaces made for the girls as well. They have their kids picture on one side and the letter of their name on the other. Since Angie doesn't have any kids I had a glittered butterfly put on the backside of hers. These were tucked down inside of the keeper.

I have some new things I'm working on for the up coming new year, as soon as life gets back to normal I'll let you know all about them. And there is even some new adventures I'm taking on. So much is going on right now I hope I'm ready for the challenge. All I can say is bring it on 2010!

Happy Sewing, Shannon

Just for Karas!

Back in September I received my Clotilde notions catalog in the mail and these cute dolls caught my eye for a really good price. I thought this would make a fun Christmas gift for our cute little Karas. When the doll came she came with nothing, not even the clothes on her back. So you know what that meant don't you? Yup your right, this Grandma had to get going on doll clothes. Oh how fun was this going to be, I hadn't made doll clothes since my girls were little. I don't know how many Cabbage Patch clothes I made, but I know it was a pot load(or bag)! Then I stumbled across this fun pattern book to make the clothes. All it takes is two coordinating fat 1/4's for each of the outfits and heaven knows I have plenty of those. I could outfit the whole doll universe if I wanted to. Needless to say this doll came out smelling like a rose with all of her stylish and fun outfits. And oh I couldn't forget the shoes and accessories, every girl needs those. Am I right? I found some really great spots online that offer doll accessories at great prices, I guess you could say I went a little overboard, but Karas is worth every penny!

Here are pictures of the outfits I made for Karas's doll. The first picture is what I dressed her in to give it to her.

The wrap around skirt is reversible, it is red polka dot on the other side. She's wearing black croc's for her shoes. Got love em'. I do! Her knit hats were crocheted by one of my co-workers, then I found flowers to clip into them.

This picture is of all the outfits and the shoes to match. OMG I had a hard time parting with her, I was having so much fun dressing her and undressing her to put her in something new. I couldn't decide. Isn't that just like a girl?

Tennis anyone? Her new jammies and check out her fu-fu slippers!

Yellow cuffed capris and sleeveless top, pink and green shorts set with pink slip on shoes. Cute huh!

Red school jumper with fashion flower pin, and brown t-strap shoes. Western outfit consists of pink and brown ruffled skirt, leather vest with fringe and of course the cute cowgirl boots!

Green and blue floral sun dress with matching headband.

And her she is back in her box ready to wrap, the pink bag I got at Corn Wagon, it really is meant for sewing notions but look how perfect is fits her shoes and accessories. Yes those are her socks and her pac-pac (backpack) as Karas calls it in the bottom compartment. And on the other side it holds all the clothes. This is one spoiled doll wouldn't you say, but the joy on Karas' face was worth every minute that I put into all of this. She loved it, I hope this is something she will cherish for a long, long time.

This pictures says it all. She's happy! I love you Karas.

Sisters Shopping Spree

The first week in December I get to spend a day shopping with my sisters. This is something we did when Mom was still alive. She loved shopping and we knew she would want us to keep this tradition up. We miss having Collette close by, not very often does she get to join us. So we sure do look forward to our get together in the summer time. While we were in St. George over the Thanksgiving holiday I found the perfect little gift I could give my sisters this year. It was something that reminded me so much of my mom that I just had to have them. I took them the day we went shopping so Jan and Tamara could open theirs. I mailed Collette hers, and she called a couple days later to thank me. She also said, "You always know how to make us cry!" When she saw it of course it reminded her of mom. Tamara with her gift.

And Jan with hers.

And here is what I gave them. A Christmas ornament to hang somewhere to remind them of Mom. For those of you who knew my mom, she loved shopping and she always had a new handbag for all the seasons. So I guess you could say she has taught us everything we know. Like Mother, Like Daughter. I also gave them a pair of earrings I had made from left over beads from the necklaces I gave them for their birthdays. Aren't sisters great. I love all of mine so very much.

Christmas at the Corn Wagon

Our Christmas party at the Corn Wagon just happened to be on the same day I got the news we were going to be the featured quilt shop on Moda Bakeshop, so I kept it a secret until that night and I made the annoucement after dinner. The only one that knew was Marsha and Mary Ann. Oh were they all giddy after hearing the news. They all had to run into the office to check it out on the computer even before I had the chance to finish telling them all about it. Big, big news for a small town quilt shop from Springville. What a fun night. We all took something for potluck and a exchange gift. I made coconut cupcakes and a chicken and dressing casserole. When I have more time I will blog about the recipes. They are both real yummy.

This was my exchange gift. I made it from of course, one of my favorite lines right now. Rouinerres from French General. It is a necklace and jewelry keeper for traveling. This is what it looks like when it is rolled up and buttoned.

Unroll it and you have the pockets at the bottom and the loops at the top to thread your necklaces through. Everyone was fighting over it. Now I need to make another one for me. Hum, I wonder when that will be!!

Me in front of the Moda Bakeshop display that was on the Moda website. Do I look happy? I am!

Some of my co-workers, Marsha, Lynette, Ramona(crocheting something for me by the way), and Margene.

Alishia, Mary and Lynette(Ozzy) patiently waiting their turn to open gifts.

Marsha and myself. What a wonderful boss. You couldn't ask for better. She just let's me do my own thing and run with it. And look where it got us, http://www.modabakeshop.com/. Check us out if you haven't had a chance.

A fun tradition for my girls!

A couple of years ago I started this tradition for Kira and Kaitlyn. I call it the Christmas Pajama Gram. Here's what I do. The week before Christmas I assemble a package for each of the girl's with new jammies and some kind of fun goodies. Who doesn't like to get all comfy cozy to finish up all the last minute wrapping, cooking etc. Or to sit down and just cuddle up to a good holiday movie. In with their pj's this year I put some footie socks, the Holiday movie and some Hershey Hugs and Kisses. The card said, "Hugs" and "Kisses" this "Holiday" season! Love, Santa and Mrs. Claus. They loved their packages sent from the North Pole at 284 N. 400 E.!! Kira's package
Kaitlyn's package

And look what was waiting for me one night during the holidays when I got home from work. A fun little package from 2 Mrs. Claus'. They did it back to me. What a complete surprise.

New jammies, slipppers, candy and a cute new necklace charm. What cute girl's I have.
I have something in the works already for next year, can't wait!

Let's visit Santa!

Kira and I with the help of Aunt Jan Jan took the kids to see Santa at the Provo Town Center on December 23rd of all days. Are we crazy!! Yup. The kids were pleasantly good patiently waiting to sit on Santa's lap. Goof off pictures!

Aunt Jan with Me and the kids.

And would you look at this, Thayne is scared to death of this nice man, he didn't want anything to do with him. Karas on the other hand couldn't get enough of him. She didn't want to leave. Santa just took the time she needed to talk to him, too bad if there was a line. So cute.

Christmas at the White house!

Christmas Eve is always a special time for me, we had all the kids home this year. We started our evening off by going to the cemetary and lighting our lumineres on the graves of the loved ones that have gone before us. Boy, do we miss them this special time of year, but what a special feeling I get when I go to see them on Christmas Eve. Here's Hatch at Kiplyn's gravesite. He helped me set the luminere up.

Here we are at my parents grave. Hatch always called my mom Gramma Gramma. He loved to visit her.

Kira Rae and Karas Rae at Grandma Lela Rae and Grandpa Whites grave. There are two more granddaughters with the middle name Rae as well, Tiffany Rae and McKenna Rae. And Grandma Lela would be so proud of all of them.

Stuart and I at his parents gravesite. It was just starting to get dark when we left, when I went back at 9:00 that same evening, the tears began to flow as the cemetary was so peaceful and calm on such a silent night all lit up by all the lumineres.

And look who just happened to show up at the front door just as we were finishing our Eble Skeever dinner, the Jolly Old Man himself. The kids were so excited, all but Thayne. He wasn't quite sure about this strange man in the house!

Jacob is all smiles, does this mean he's been naughty or nice?

And opening our Christmas jammies is always fun.

The kids wanted us to open their gift that night since we were altogether. What a surprise, a book with all our pictures of events for the last year. Everything from birthdays, travels, humor, and family pictures. This is something that will be cherished for so many years. I have already looked at it over and over again.

Isn't this what Christmas is all about? You remember doing this same photo year after year don't you? These are the best presents ever. Hatch, Thayne, McKinley, and Karas

We hope your holidays were some you will always remember, and that you may have many more of them.