Playing Dress-up

Mrs. Potato Head is packed and ready for her first adventure. This bag was really fun to make and it's large enough for all three of Sophia, and Steve's, Potato Heads. I am especially proud of the applique that I created myself, the picture doesn't quite do this one justice, it turned out great!

There will be a few other people playing dress-up in the house tomorrow, with the big wedding only hours ago I can't wait to see the girls, and Steve, make their appearance at Aimee and Martin's wedding. I'm sure one of my next blogs will have to include pictures of the Markham household all dressed-up, with a bridesmaid and a flower girl in the same house it will be a long day tomorrow.

As the Christmas carol goes:

What are you doing New Years? New Years eve

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight, when it's exactly twelve o'clock that night

Welcoming in the New Year, New Years eve

I know I will be with my beautiful family, Steve and I will be holding those girls as tight as we can and hoping for another year as great at the one we've just had.

Happy New Year!

Wanted: A place to hang my hat

When Mrs. Potato Head joined the Markham family she sure did come with a lot of baggage. Now our little Sophia loves shoes, but Mrs. Potato Head loves everything. With a purse in every colour she loves to accessorize, wait that sounds like Sophia as well, hmm.

So the logical solution, to me anyway, was to create her own closet. Now it's just in the planning stages but I have a feeling the first ever Mrs. Potato Head Closet will make it's debut shortly.

Santa came to town

A very merry Christmas was had at the Markham household. The stockings were hung by the fire with care, just in time for Santa, thank you Layla for having a great sleep last night! And oh look, is that George peeking out of that stocking : )

Sophia loved her gifts and I know that Layla enjoyed her new blanket, the smile says it all.

All the Christmas rush is complete and now I can sit back and enjoy the holidays with Steve and the girls.

Stay tuned for my next project.

'twas the night before Christmas

...and all through my house, the girls are sleeping in their beds and Steve is, on the couch. I got all of the gifts sewn and wrapped with ease, just waiting for a chance to put them under the tree. The apron and roll were finished on time, awaiting a little girl in the morning to shout out "not Kitty's, their mine". Sophia's snowflake sheets will keep her warm at night and the bird's on little Layla's blanket will suit her new room just right. The placemats and stockings have been a thorn in my side, and will make their appearance tomorrow with the rest of the gifts, oh what a ride! As we settle down to watch a movie or two I wanted to take this opportunity to wish a Very Merry Christmas to You!

Help, help, help

No, I'm not referring to needing help getting my Christmas projects completed, I'm talking about Sophia's love of all things in the kitchen. From across the house I can mention that I'm getting dinner ready and she is right there beside me pulling out our aprons and pulling her chair over to the counter, while reciting "help, help..." over and over. And what kitchen would be complete without a sous-chef. And a proper chef requires proper attire, a little step up from the one I made for her before she could even walk.

I needed a project to use my new birthday present, the sizzix worked great to cut out these designs. The 2-sided apron was daddy's idea, but once again I pulled through! Just hope Sophia loves it as much as her other apron, 2 more sleeps to find out.

A Weekend Wonderland

I just want to start by saying that I love my girls more than anything else in this world...however, with Grandma and Papa spending a day at our house I was given free reign to cut, sew and create anything my little heart desired! I mostly worked on the stockings, which are quickly becoming overly complicated, but I also cut out placemats and some fabric for our precious little Layla Rose's Chirstmas blanket.

Layla and I spent some time together today and she was telling me how excited she is that it is almost Christmas, something had to get her mind off of the pain of the needles that the doctor was giving her at the time....sad morning for mommy : (

Just wanted to share another of the "made by mommy" presents

Sophia's new crayon roll, so easy and so cute! Who doesn't love the tweet, tweet fabric, adorable.

Where do you want to sit?

What a loaded question for a 2 year old about to embark on her FIRST haircut! After choosing the pink car, and later changing her mind to sit in the orange airplane (her favorite colour) Sophia got her hair cut and styled. Not only exciting for her, but mom and dad were pretty pleased too.

Look who's ready to walk down the aisle at Aimee's wedding. Our little girl is growing up : (

No Sugarplums dancing in Layla's head

I don't know whether it was my reference to "The Night Before Christmas" that got Layla confused but apparently she was staying up until midnight to have her first run in with the man in the big red suit, unfortunately for her she has decided she must have been naughty this year and she subsequently went to sleep. I guess you're never to young to be excited for Christmas! (or she heard about Sophia's new sheets and it was the first case of sibling jealousy)

Either way the stockings are still not hung by the fire and very little was accomplished last night. Better luck tonight, since I took my well deserved nap this afternoon with the girls.

And the children were snuggled...

Alright, so it might be a little premature but at least Sophia will be snuggled in her new sheets. Nothing says winter like flannel and snowflakes. Sophia had a great morning working them in for her nap.

Only time will tell whether Layla will be spending her Christmas under new sheets, who knows what Santa might bring.

Joy

"JOY" - A simple word that really captures the meaning of the holidays, and what better way to celebrate joy in the house than with fabric (and a daughter) by the same name.

Whether we're snuggling up with the kids opening presents on Christmas morning or putting our heads down after a big turkey dinner, these pillows will get a lot of use over the years.

What a simple way to add just that little touch of Christmas to another room in the house.

Countdown to Christmas

The tree is up, the lights are on and so begins the countdown to Christmas. This is my official attempt to finish all of those outstanding projects and clean up some of those "must have" fabric purchases piled around the house. The stockings must get hung by the fire with care, the girls need some new sheets to get tucked in and await the arrival of Santa, the couch deserves some new pillows and what would Christmas dinner be without a set of new placemats adorning the table.

Now this might seem a little over zealous but sitting here with my girls, drinking a coffee and watching the snow fall I believe anything is possible! And with my Christmas deadline fast approaching I better get started.