Creativ Festival - The Goodies

So on Saturday my friend picked me up early, with a quick stop at Tim's for tea and bagels we were on our way to the Creativ Festival.  We had bought our tickets online so we were able to enter the show at 9am before it opened up to the public at 10am.  We did a lot of walking around, we each had our wish lists for things to buy, we had saved up money for the retail experience.  I picked up quite a bit of supplies to last me a while.  Below are some of my goodies.

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Here are some things I bought for the kids. I picked up the Hello Kitty to make pj's for the girls and the Elmo for Tutu. And the punches I picked up the set for $10.

 The back row are fabrics I picked up a yard each from MacFAB fabrics. I always spend the bulk of my money here. He carries Amy Butler and Michael Miller fabrics and at the show he sells then 50% off at $10 a yard. Some of them are going to be used for a quilt I want to make for our bedroom (not sure when that will happen but that is the plan). The second and third row are fat quarters I picked up from Log Cabin Yardage. I plan on using the third row ones I plan on using in the quilt.

The 2 sets of fat quarters I picked up from Sew Sisters, some of them will be used on the quilt. The chains I picked up from some beading place didn't pay attention to the name.  The elastics were bought at a shop I shop at every year but don't remember the name of it.

Stamps bought from Close to My Heart. About 4 years ago I tried to see the product but I ended up being my own best customer and so I stopped but I really love the quality of all their product. I am tempted to start selling again.

I picked up these yarns from Sew Knit, I got 5 skeins for $15 plus tax. 1 ball makes a scarf so it works out to $3 a scarf you can't go wrong. Of course I started to work with it already. I hope to get the white one done in time for Mother's Day for my mom.

I picked this up from The Crochet Crowd,  think I'm going to make a cowl or a shawl from this. Not sure yet.

And last but not least I picked up the faux leather from MacFAB for $10 a yard and then found the handles at some store I don't remember their name but I thought the pink would be the perfect pop of colour. And the yellow I am planning a crocheting a couple of purses. The yellow handle has those suspender clasps on the end so I can use it on a variety of bases.

I can't wait to start creating all the goodies I envisioned when I bought all this stuff. I just need time to create.

Ania

Creative Journey - A Daily Dose of Creativity Week 17

Still not doing much stuff on the physical front. The  knee is still swollen and sore but a bit better. I have to wait 2 weeks for the results from the MRI. At physio this week I started doing shuttles to strengthen the muscles around the knee.   Still spending lots of time on the couch but getting more active.

 I spent Saturday mornig walking around at the Creativ Festival. I used all my birthday money to atock up on supplies. I spent a bulk of my budget on fabrics. But I also got some yarn and stamps and scrapbooking supplies.  I was hoping to get some pictures today and post about it but with 3 kids being sick that didn't happen. Muffin caught this virus first and has been fighting it for more then a week. Friday Monkey came home from school with it but it didn't hit her as bad as it did her sister and last night Tutu got it. I was up in the wee hours of the morning with him and his fever. Not as bad as it was 2 weeks ago but enough to bother him so he wasn't sleeping.  Hopefully tomorrow I will get a picture, if not it probably wont' happen until next week as I need to get the house ready for my FIL's visit. He's coming up Friday and staying for 6 days.


Monday

Adding to a  sketch

And colour was added to finish it.

 Tuesday

Starting a dish cloth

Starting a new sketch

Wednesday

working on the inspirational sketch some more.

Thursday

and it's almost finished.

Friday

Sketching out ideas for a project I hope to put in my kitchen.

And some doodles.

Saturday

Started working on a baby blanket but I scrapped it . I didn't like the way it was turning out. 

So instead I started working on a ruffle scarf with yarn I picked up in the morning.

Sunday

Tried to finish Monkey's maxi dress but I ended up break the thread again and put it aside again.

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So I started working on curtain's for Monkey's room. I had to go out today to buy the material because Lord know I didn't buy enough yesterday at the show.  My FIL is coming up for a visit on Friday and will be sleeping in Monkey's room and the blinds that are in there now suck. So I'm hoping to have them done before then.

And I worked on the scarf some more.

And started pinning the hem on one side of the curtains. 

I hope everyone had a creative and productive week, And the upcoming week and  as productive and creative.

Ania

Creativ Festival

I am so excited about tomorrow.I am going with a friend to the Creativ Festival. I have been going the past 15 years, usually with my mom (who will be there as well). I love seeing all the new things, I love that so many of the hobbies I enjoy are all under 1 roof. I love getting deals or finding things you can't find in stores. I can't wait. I also love that it's always after my birthday so I have a decent amount of money to spend.  I can't wait to see what treasure I can find.  My must have list is a ruffle foot for my sewing machine, some funky fabrics and washi tape.  Everything else I will purchase will either be good deals or coll funky finds. 

Below is some of my finds from last year. 

Ania

Full of Gratitude

Since my birthday party I have been full of gratitude. That whole weekend made me realize how blessed I am. I am grateful to all the great people in my life. I am grateful to the friends and family who spent most of the weekend with us celebrating my birthday and Monkey's First Communion.  I have such awesome and amazing people in my life.   Even the ones who couldn't make it because they were studying or something like that. At least I know I was free from silent judgement those 2 days.

I am grateful for one particular friend who can be a total PITA but I know she is doing it for my benefit. She wants me to be the best me I can be. I appreciate her honestly, her support and her butt kicking abilities. And I'm a tiny bit sorry we can't race in the fall together but seriously lakes truly freak me out and I don't want to do it again.

And speaking of friends, I am grateful to the bestest friend I have Rock.  He loves me and supports me.  He is such an awesome dad.  I don't know very many people who can live and work with their spouse but we've managed for 15 years.  Not to mention how he's picked up the slack the last few weeks since I am partially out of commission.

And since I've moved onto family; I am grateful for my 3 loving kids, Seriously I could not have asked for better kids. I love them with all my heart, they are sweet and kind. They take care of each other.  They are bright and funny and I love spending time with them.

And I can't be grateful for my family without mentioning my parents. Without them we would be lost. My mom has been staying with us since Tutu was born.  Given all the stuff that was going on that year there was no way I could manage a newborn, a 2 year old who refused to sleep at night and my sick MIL.  My dad is here from 7am to 7pm most days (and yes I've been trying to convince him to sell his house and move in with us, it just makes sense on so many levels). At 78 he still works part time 3 days a week at a physical job, when he takes the kids to the park he climbs up with Tutu and goes down the slide with him. He gets Monkey to the bus every day, he does our grass, fixes things for us, and does our garden. Life would be so much harder without the love and support from them.

I don't have much family here in Canada but I feel like I do because Rock's extended family is awesome.  They support us in everything we do, since my MIL passed away they have taken over being that family support for Rock. They love and spoil our kids. They are amazing.

I am grateful to an amazing bunch of mamas I have in my life, I only get to see them every few months but they are a part of my life daily. I don't know what I would do without their advice and wisdom.  No topic is is impossible for them, they always have the answers you need and the support you require.  I don't know how I could be the mom I am without their help. 

I am grateful for my job, yes even this week where it is literally driving me crazy with the monotomus repetitive work I am doing.  The job itself may suck but I still have a job and I am surrounded by a great group of people. I am lucky enough to work with Rock but seriously the people I work with are awesome, we have some good times at work even lately. We all know how to joke around and have a good time.

I am grateful for the talents God has given me. I hope shortly that I can put them to good use in helping my family and eventually helping others.  I can no longer take them for granted.

I am grateful for my hurt knee, not that it doesn't suck royally not to do the simplest things, but it has gotten me to slow down. It has allowed me to take time to reflect and set some goals for the future. I know that there is a lesson to learn from it but that has yet to be shown to me.  Everything happens for a reason but we don't always see that reason right away.

There is probably so much more I should be mentioning but I am getting tired. It's been a long, drawn out day and week. Tomorrow is going to be a big day, we are finally getting back the results from monkey's physcho-educational assessment.  I am feeling really nervous about it but tomorrow will be the start of a new beginning because now we will be able to  better help Monkey be the best Monkey she can be.  We can put tools and supports in place for her. 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful and creative week and thinking about all they have to be grateful for.

Ania

What I Wore Wednesday - Maxi Dress

So now that our crazy weekend is over we have all been taking it easy. This weekend was a bit crazy as Rock was at a retreat all weekend and I was alone with the kids. I did some sewing while the kids trashed played in the basement. And on Sunday we went to Monkey's BFF's Communion. Speaking of Communions I shared pictures from Monkey's over here. Since we were taking it easy I also didn't get many pictures of my outfits. 

Still  being mostly  couch bound  has afforded me more time to work on my projects.  You can check them out  here where I hold myself accountable on a weekly basis and post my pictures on facebook and twitter daily.

As with previous weeks I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy , Mama Go Round and the Transatlantic Blonde.

 

I'm posting this a day early again because I have a physio appointment tomorrow, I'm hoping he can do an assessment on me tomorrow to see where we are at. I had a MRI on Monday morning but it'll be 2 weeks before I get the results.

  

Thursday  - Work

 cardi - Target

top- Lane Bryant (This top was on an episode of What Not to Wear as a what not to wear. Now seeing it on me it's going to be a what not to wear and will probably be turned into flowers for headbands.).

pants - Addition Elle

socks - Walmart

Sunday - Monkey's BFF's Communion

t-shirt - Walmart

Maxi dress- made by me the day before

Tuesday - work and school council

headband - gift from a  friend

cowl necklace - made by me

dress - Target

jeans - MXM

I hope that everyone had a great week and  creative week.

Ania

First Communion

On April 15 Monkey celebrate the sacrament of her First Holy Communion.  With months of preparation behind us she was able to participate an important part of our faith.

Following in my mother's footsteps she had one made dress for the day and I store bought one.  My mother and I made the dress she wore to the church. We made it in 2 parts so that in 4 years when Muffin celebrates her First Holy Communion she will be able to wear it.  Right now they are almost the same size so in 4 years there is no way it would fit her.  The skirt we left the elastic undone so we can let it out for Muffin and the skirt is very long. If we need to lengthen it we can just add another row of ruffles. As for the shirt we purchase some extra material so we can make a shirt to fit her.  My mother made the purse to go with the dress and I made the flower pin on the dress and the flower wreath and veil.  I have 6 years to figure out how to sew a suit for Tutu's Communion.

We got to the Church about half an hour before mass so we could take some pictures and avoid the crowds after mass.

These pictures were taken at the back of the church

 Sisters at the Altar

Muffin at the Altar

And of course Muffin needed to have her picture taken.

Monkey in front of the Tabernacle

Of course Muffin needed in on the action

The group of children who celebrated the Sacrament together.

I`m a bit disappointed with the church, they don't it by school which is ok,they do it as part of a few regular masses and there are 3or 4 schools who participate. I'm ok with this what disappoints me is that it`s not made special for the children that day, they sit with their parents during the mass, there are no special songs or readings or prayers by the children. The only thing that was done to made them stand out was 1) their names were read int he prayers of the Faithful, 2) they had the children who were celebrating and their families come up first for Communion before the rest of the conjuration and 3) at the end of mass the children were called up to receive their certificates. I wish it would have been a little bit more.

The cake I made for Monkey

A family picture while we enjoy fireworks on the cake.

 My girl looking so big

I am so proud of my girl, she did so well.

Ania