Passionate Design

Bulle Means Bubble in French

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:22:00 +0000

So, um, yeah I've been gone from this space for practically eternity. Being pregnant with 5 kids sorta makes you switch your priorities around. However, I just finished a project and goodness I got so many pictures that I just HAD to share them all here.

The lovely Shannon from luvinthemommyhood is hosting her annual Tops, Tanks, & Tees Knit Along. I must confess when she announced it I wasn't sure I would take part. While I love the KAL experience I haven't had the best track record with actually FINISHING projects and I was (still am) in the throes of knitting for Somebody coming in June. However, after finishing up not just one, not just two, but THREE different knitting projects for Somebody I felt it was time to knit for someone else (how many sweaters does a baby really need?) Elsa, seemed a tinge envious of all the baby knits and since Shannon graciously allows us to knit for babies and children if we desire I was in.

The B&W photo was the very first picture I took during our photo session and by the looks of the Girl I wasn't sure how well it would go...she went ahead and surprised me:

Of course we had to have a little fun too:

Honestly I just kept clicking away, 47 pictures in about 5 minutes and all of them so delightful to look at. We timed it perfectly because as soon as we were done the sun went behind the clouds and hasn't popped back out since.

Details

Pattern: Bulle by Karen Borrel

Yarn: Cascade Sierra Quatro, 80/20 cotton/wool blend

I actually happened upon this yarn already knit up into a cardi at the thrift store. I knew the yarn on site (parlor trick of mine) and at $3 for the sweater I couldn't allow it to stay languishing on the rack. The cardi wasn't my style at all (nor the color) but I knew I could unknit it and make something stunning-which if I do say so myself I did! There was just over 300gms from the sweater which equals 3 hanks and I didn't use it all either :)

Universal Dolce Merino, 50/50 micro fiber/merino blend for the pockets

Mods

I didn't get gauge but didn't want to tinker with different needles to see if I could so I simply cast on for the 3/4 to get the 5/6 width and just knit the extra length. I'll tell you that I began to grow nervous that it might not be big enough...well long enough but after blocking it was perfect. She'll be able to wear this all summer long and the bonus about it being a tunic is eventually she'll get to wear it as just a top!

I loved the pattern, it was so neat and just about the time boredom set in something changed. I'll definitely consider making it again, maybe in all wool for the autumn season. The part that I loved the most in the pattern, but was the most irritating to do...the pockets. Yeah, you knit those after the sweater is done and in the round, but because it is in the round you are constantly having to pick up the sweater and turn it for each round...annoying but certainly not a deal breaker in the pattern.

And ladies, don't fret, if you see what you like here I'm happy to report that there is also a Lady Bulle pattern! I'm thinking I just might knit one for myself this summer :)

The Camera's Been Clickin'

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:34:00 +0000

Okay so this'll be a first. I've been following click it up a notch since we bought our new camera. I knew that while photography might be in my blood (my dad's a photographer) I learned film photography and not digital and that I wanted some pointers.

I really have no inclinations to go pro with this, I just want to take really nice pictures of my kids, my crafts and life...the stuff that makes me well me.

Still last month (really last week) I took the kids outside for a photo project and I somehow managed to capture this picture of mister Thaddeus:

Are you as amazed as me? Yeah...it was one of those photos that I wasn't trying to get but got it just the same and with just a little editing with PicMonkey (honestly I'm too poor for PhotoShop) I think that it just captures his pure joy and delight at 1) being the center of attention and 2) swinging.

Since this is definitely one of my very best photos I've decided that I will enter it in September's I Clicked it Up a Notch photography contest. My fingers are crossed.

Photo Taken: Sept 24, 2012
Camera: Cannon EOS Rebel T2i, kit lens
F-stop: f/4.5
Exposure: 1/1000 sec
ISO: 400

Smile, My Life is that Interesting...

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:39:00 +0000

Okay, so Shannon over at luvinthemommyhood started this and well I'm gonna finish it! Then go grocery shopping :)

* i'm longing to make "a patchwork quilt slip cover for my couches" right now. And by right now I mean yesterday! I can honestly say that I've thought of doing this before but never have and now that I've seen someone else do it I want it too! Problem...I have 1 sofa sleeper couch and 2 (yes two) love seats (though not in the same room) and I can't have them feeling left out :) Mayhaps this will be a goal for 2013?

* i want to try "knitting" with some "quivut" yarn.

* i wish i could sew with "Rockin' Romance" fabric.

* i dream of making "my whole wardrobe". Really I do. Jeans, khakis, skirts, tops, sweaters and of course dresses...lifetime goal here.

* i keep track of my ideas by "thinking about them constantly". No really, I rarely sketch or write out ideas I just keep them locked away in my cute little brain. Some of you might think that's crazy or that you'd forget. I'll be honest I WISH I could forget stuff. A great memory can be a curse...I mean do I really have to remember that the first time I met my husband he beat me thouroughly at tether ball? Or that I'm often the first person to notice and comment on the fact that you have lipstick on your teeth? Yes, all that and more is in my brain (I could even quote to you from memory the due dates, actual arrival dates, birth weights and what they lost in the first couple days of ALL FIVE of my kids)

* i'm inspired by "life". Not just the everything around me sense but the nitty gritty life as we live it. I'm inspired when I see people standing in line at the grocery store, when I'm washing the dishes or even when I'm sleeping (I wake up with the greatest ideas sometimes). I'm inspired to make life not just functional and livable but beautiful as well. I want others to see the beauty in the messes of life.

* i would love to meet "too many people" in person. I have made so many friends through the introwebs that I would love to meet them in person, specifically Shannon, Becca, Kristy and then there's friends I've met through facebook and I'd love to meet them too :)

* my favorite fiber is "wool". Seriously can you go wrong with wool? I didn't think so :)

* i like to sew with "knits". Ohmygosh, favorite thing to work with. I love how everything turns out, how you don't have to hem and well I just love it in general.

* my favorite color is "ORANGE". Enough said.

* i rock at "baby making". Let your mind wander if you will but I had to enter in something funny but exessively true :)

* i would like to learn how to make "the most of my photography".

* i like to listen to "classical music" while i "drive the kids places". Don't get me wrong here I listen to all kinds of music but classical (though I know that word incompasses a lot of music) is the most easy flowing music and the kids and I are always calmer when it's on in the suburban

* i bring my "party self" everywhere. I am a self-proclaimed party in a person. Go ahead, invite me to a party and I promise you'll see the truth in this statement :)

* my favorite thing to "sew" is "women's dresses". My dream is to make custom dresses for women. I'm not into making patterns, sewing for everyone's kids but I love to make dresses and I would love to make dresses for other women.

* my favorite thing to "knit" are "cowls".

* my crafting space is "controlled chaos". Yet I know where just about everything is. The moment I can't find something is the moment I start cleaning up.

* if i had my own crafting room it would have "floor to celing walls of fabric so that I can see and feel what I have". I can't stress it enough when I say I do not live in boxes. I hate that I have to store my lovely fabric in shelves where I never see them. If I see something I want to create. What I would love is to be able to have all of my fabrics out and hanging organized by color :) Someday!

* i sew with "a kenmore". It's old, has only one presser foot and works like a dream. Knits have never had it so good. I got it from my husband's aunt when my Brother stopped working just before Christmas...she's prolly never going to get it back ;)

* i like to "repeat" "the cute things my kids say". Yeah, I'm pretty much a sucker for all the adorbsible things my kids say. Right now on the radar is Vinny's explaination of the alphabet "Momma, Teacher says we have to learn all our letters because it will be in every word we learn to read this year!" i.die!

* i can never get enough "hugs from my love". True story. I love my husband and love it when he takes me in his arms and tells me I'm his whole world :)

* i adore "writing". Yup, I love to write. I write fiction, non-fiction if two letters make a word then I'm there!

* i also enjoy "letter writing" and "fancy lettering". Yeah, I'm kinda addicted to making pretty envelopes. For all my thank you notes I have now started mailing them the old fashioned way and prettifying them up (yes I just made up a word, deal with it). I love getting cards in the mail and you should too...it sure beats bills ;)

* i like to fill my shelves with "pictures". I love having pictures on the walls, shelves, cupboards...well maybe not yet. Pictures of family or cards that I have recieved. Usually my shelves are full of stuff but if I had my druthers I'd have candles and photographs on every open shelf!

* i create the best when i'm "dressed up like I mean it". I ABHOR sweat pants, yoga pants are acceptable for short periods of time but to be completely honest if I'm frumpy my thoughts are frumpy and I hit a crazy road block to creativity. If I really want to make something I dress up, hair, make-up, shoes and usually a dress (though I do have the most adorable pair of jeans I stole for $3). Really, I hate being frumpy so much that I make myself knit skirts for post partum because I can only handle being in jammies for about 12 hours :)

* i am currently excited for "my little girl to start preschool". Yes it is true, my little princess starts preschool on Monday and I am beyond excited for her and for me. For 1/2 a day 4 days a week it'll just be me and the beebs (Thaddeus)...I'm already planning quiet time for him and craft time for me. Can you say HEAVEN? Plus, it doesn't hurt that she is excited too. She's filling out pretend forms for school, talking about her teaching and squealing with delight everytime we pass the preschool. I'm really hoping she makes a best friend in her class this year. We live in a small town and she could easily meet that bestie that will follow her through high school...maybe even college. You all remember those friends right?

* right now i am "test pattern". Hush hush...

* i love to watch "nothing" while creating. I actually can't create and craft, kinda like chewing gum and walking. Don't get me wrong I will knit and watch tv and movies (so long as they aren't action thrillers) but I don't usually sew or create much while watching shows. Mostly because I get too drawn into the shows that I forget to move my hands. However if you want to know my fave shows right now they are "Once Upon a Time" "Sherlock" " Downton Abbey" and I am super excited for "Elementary" that starts this week!

* my guilty pleasure when it comes to creating is "thrift store splurges". Um, yeah I really can't say no in thrift shops, reguardless of how many oversized t-shirts I have at home I really really really need another one at $1!

* my current favorite music crush to listen to while creating is "Sara Barielles Radio on Pandora or Rend Collective Experiment Radio on Pandora". I ADORE Pandora!!! I love that I don't have to listen to just one particular artist but can listen to similar artists too. I get introduced to a ton of new music and my play lists in Spotify keep growing ;)

Well, now you know all about me...I want to know all about you. Feel free to copy and paste this into your blog and answer the questions as you would (not me, obviously I already know me).

Buffy

For My Daughter on her 4th Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Dearest Elsbeth,

Today is your birthday, four years ago you were born into a family of boys and am I ever happy you came. I must confess that I am both excited for you and confused. Confused because I can't believe you're already four, no longer my tiny baby but an almost preschooler who chooses ice cream based on color not flavor (purple, you like purple ice cream). I'm excited for you too. This marks the year you get Barbies, start doing your own laundry and begin to get ready for kindergarten.

Right now you'r hair is cut in the cutest bob and I love how your blonde hair just hits your chin. You love your hair cut too, probably because even bed head looks good and I'm not always messing with it. You love Disney Princesses, though it's really hard to tell if you have a favorite as you pretty much love 'Tangled, Beast, and Rella' (your words not mine). Still the only time I can get you to sit still is when a princess movie is on and you sing along with all the songs and my heart melts every time.

You love dogs but only if they are on tv, outside when you're inside, or inside when you're outside. Basically you love the idea of dogs but not them in life. Your favorite color is purple, though pink is close second and your favorite part about your Barbies are the combs for their hair and their shoes.

In the last year you've grown a lot. You are much more independant and love to tell me "I do it myself!" though you do have days when you play the invalid (especially when you're with Grandpa). You, unlike your brothers before you, hate wearing your shoes on the wrong feet. You love to wear dresses though because of you desire for independance usually wear pants and a t-shirt because your dresses are up too high for you to reach and you won't ask for help.

Right now I'm in love with your spunk. It will get you far in this hard world, your determination to do things as well as your brothers but with more style and class. You have the best facial expressions and I often wish others could see the same spunky girl I love peeking through those looks. A day isn't truly complete until you've stripped naked and run through the house for more clothes (never fear, your father and I don't worry about exotic dancing as a career choice for you). You love to laugh and often make me laugh just from the sound of it. You're also a big tease, especially with your dad. He loves it.

As I look to the next year, another chapter in your life and mine as well I am grateful. Grateful that I get to watch it unfold. As the only girl you bring a joy and happiness to my life that your brothers can never touch. You exasperate me with your roller coaster ride of emotions and hormones, yet I love it too, how you express yourself. You have moments that take my breath away in that I feel like I'm looking in the mirror at myself.

My dream for you is that you accept the love God has for you as readily as you accept my love. That you will make friends with girls (I know they may look like aliens but they aren't). Girls can be cruel, but I promise a great best friend will get you through the mean ones and enrich your life beyond measure.

Also, I pray that you won't be in a rush to grow up. Hard as it is to wait and be patient I know, from experience, that God gives perfect gifts in His perfect time. There isn't any need to rush what is to come but to enjoy the journey along the way.

I am so excited to get to know the woman you're growing into, though I truly love the GIRL that you are. Sticky hands, messy hair with crayons, cars and Barbie shoes in your pockets.

Happy Birthday my Sweet.

All My Love,

Momma

Guess What I'm wearing today???

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:07:00 +0000

Yes that's right! My new sweater :) I'm so excited that the weather has finally cooled off enough for me to put it on...well cooled off enough in the morning that is, I'll prolly have to take it off this afternoon.

Still I'm happy to have it on.

I love that I decided to make my own buttons. Part of that was because I didn't have money for pretty buttons and the cheap ones wouldn't work. The other part is that I love fabric covered buttons :)

Well, I promise I'll try and pop in here a little more frequently but currently I am crazy swamped and can barely get what must get done finished each day. I thought with the kids in school I'd have more time looks like I have less...a connundrum if I ever heard of it!

So I'm in desperate need of some love and need you all to tell me how much you love the sweater. I still want to do a photo shoot with it but that will have to wait for another day...

Finshed Sweater...well almost ;)

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:02:00 +0000

Yes!!! My sweater is finished, well except for a few ends to weave in and buttons :)

I'm in love and can barely wait for fall so I can wear this baby every. single. day.

I've already started another sweater, just a baby sweater but a sweater nontheless. I do have plans for more too but you'll just have to wait.

I seriously can't believe that I finished a sweater for myself, with sock yarn in 7 weeks! This is the first time I've finished a sweater with a deadline not only on time but early :) Ohmygoodness craziness. Now to find the perfect buttons and have a friend take pictures of me wearing it :)

There's a Body!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:50:00 +0000

So sorry to have missed you all last week but I was traveling. I had fully intended to schedule a post but I got that horrible orrible flu bug (on my birthday no less) and was just starting to recover on Tuesday so it was a no go. Plus I didn't have much to show in the way of progress as I couldn't knit when I was sick...yes I was that ill!

Still today I have some great news...I cast off for the body of the sweater last night! Yay for me :)

I'm still trying to figure out how to take decent photos of myself so you know laugh along with me at my self-portrait attempt in my bathroom (newly cleaned and painted thankyouverymuch).

I really love the stripes. I have to say I was a bit nervous about striping the whole thing but I love how it has turned out, it is a very Buffy sweater look. I also discovered much to my joy, that I have a shorter torso which means that I did not have to knit 15 inches of stocking stitch under the arm before the hem. I knit 12 and I did the hem per the directions which is 20 rows of garter stitch which should be an 1.5 inches but it looks closer to 2 for me which gives me a total of 14ish inches in length which is perfect! It is exactly the same length as my tank top and since I always wear and extra long cami under my clothes it'll be perfect :)

Those stripes I love. I can hardly wait to get that baby soaking in a bath and watch the yarn relax and fill out the pattern. Everything will look that much prettier once the blocking has happened :) Still there are two sleeves left and I for one am looking forward to have less that 100 stitches on my needles :)

How is your sweater coming along? I'm so close to finishing I can taste it! In fact I'm already planning my next sweater, well sweaters as one is going to be a baby sweater (seriously, baby season is upon us). I promise when I'm done to have someone wonderful take photos for me so I can show it off in its true splendor :)

just a wee bit of progress...

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:18:00 +0000

I missed you all last week but life prevented me from posting. First in that the computer went wako and my Tech Support Hubby had to back up everything and do a system restart (if you understand that kudos to you). Also last week was VBS at church so I was busy baking goodies and making sure my kids didn't break anything :) So it's been 2 weeks and boy have I got some progress to show you on my sweater....

See that body? Crazy right? Well, probably not crazy as this is the only project I'm knitting on at the moment for two reasons, I don't have time for another project and I love this project I don't want to start anything until it's finished (see, I'm not turning into a monogamous knitter). Still, even with my monogamy to this project it is taking time as life got crazy busy. Still I'm half way done with the body then I'll get to do the sleeves...

Which I'm excited for. I'm only on my third ball of yarn and it's only half used so I'm totally confidant that I'll have plenty of yarn :) Now that the body is coming along you can really see the umbrellas pop which of course is great!

I'm hopeful (if not a bit deragned) to have the body finished in the next week (really it'll probably be 2) so I can start on the sleeves.

Well, there it is. Progress and insanity, two things that make my life complete :) In other news my birthday is Sunday and tomorrow is my party and I am convinced I need make a new outfit...I'd say for both but I'm not sure I'm that crazy and because I want to knit more than I want to sew :)

and then there was scrap yarn...

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:29:00 +0000

It's true my sweater no longer looks like a hat for a giant but now an actual sweater with sleeves...

well maybe not sleeves exactly but at least there are stitches on scrap yarn marking wear sleeves will one day be :)

Since this is a top down I decided to try it on, make sure it wasn't too big or worse too small. Drumroll...

It fits! I have to say that I am entirely happy that I chose to knit the 36/38 size instead of the 40/42 because it's obvious that the 40 would have been too big.

I'm gonna have to get some measurements and see when I want to start the waist shaping, that's probably the only modification that I'll be making, I'll put the decreases for my waist where, well my actual waist is :)

This past Sunday I took the some of the kids to the park (Husband was sick)...

I got to knit a little while I was there

It was awesome.

Well there you have it scrap yarn, parks and sleeves! And oh yes, a giveaway as promised. Nothing too spectacular, just an apron...

I saw this fabric and it cried to me to make it into an apron, so I obligied :) I think it's perfect for summer and will be great on the dark, long winter day's to help brighten your kitchen and lighten the workload of cooking :)

So just leave a comment below, if you need help thinking of something to say you could tell a joke, write a limmerick, or even give me a math problem to work on :) Just be nice and in a couple weeks I'll pick a lucky winner at random. (please for my sake and yours leave someway to be contacted via email or if your name links to your email that works too)

Hope you have a day that's sunny side up and get knitting :)

*Disclaimer* I just want to clear the air in that I'm giving this apron away for fun and for no other reason. I love to make things and give them away and I love making new friends :)

2 weeks in...

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 16:48:00 +0000

So I'm 2 weeks into my sweater for the KAL at luvinthemommyhood and what to I have to show for it? This, this is what I have...

UMBRELLAS!!! Yes those are UMBRELLAS! I love it already and can hardly wait to finish!!!!!

I finished the fair isle last night, finished a decrease round and now I'm placing stitch markers for the raglan increases. I'm 13 3/4 rounds from dividing for the body and sleeves!!! This is so exciting.

Speaking of stitch markers, what do you think of mine...

Everyone uses their daughters hair elastics for stitch markers right? Haha! I can never seem to keep track of stitch markers...I have hundreds floating around in my house but can barely find 1 for a beginning of round marker so I go back to the hair elastics :) I drool over markers like these...

Drops of Rainbow Stitch Markers from Charming Beadz

or these...

Musical Non Snag Stitch Markers by winemakerssister

and would love to get some like this...

Owl Knitting Stitch Markers by lavenderhillknits

but in all honesty I'd rather spend what little yarn budget I have on actual yarn and patterns than cute stitch markers. I do however have a birthday coming up wink wink :)

So tell me, what do you think of the sweater progress? What do you use for stitch markers? Speaking of gifts I feel it's time to do another giveaway...it's been a while. Next week I'll have something fun to give away :)

what they call obsessed...

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:10:00 +0000

It's true I'm obsessed. Completely and unabashedly obsessed. With Sherlock...

source

wait, wait, wait...I meant to say with my Umbrellas sweater :)

though as a side note how awesome is the name Benedict Cumberbatch? I mean come on, can it get more British? The man has amazing parents! I of course deduced this from his name ;)

Okay, back on topic. Knitting. Fair Isle. Sweaters. Summertime.

I got the extra yarn I ordered.

I was over-the-top excited when I pulled them out of the bag.

Look at the cake of yarn, that is what I had before. They match perfectly! I mean perfectly! Considering that I didn't have the color number or dye lot for the yarn I had on hand...I just remembered the brand I think I got blessed by the Knitting Fairies :) I promise, Fairies I'll pay it forward.

love the umbrella tops <3

Can I just say I love this sweater? Oh, wait I just did :) Honestly, I haven't found any errors or problems in the pattern though that doesn't mean I haven't made any. It probably would go easier if I marked the fair isle pattern repeat but I can't find my stitch markers and I don't want to buy anymore. I did have to go and buy another needle as my 29-inch just was too short for the 300+ sts and I still have one more row of increases!

Even though the pattern is knit with sock weight yarn it's really knit up at a DK gauge which doesn't bother me in the least. Right now I'm following the pattern for the 36/38 but I may change it up after the split for the body and go up to the 40/42, I've had 5 babies people so I don't want to draw too much attention to the tummy but I did want some negative ease. We'll see. Once I'm done with fair isle pattern I'll try it on.

For those knitting along with me how is your sweater going? Are you obsessed as me? Personally I blame the obsession on watch Sherlock for most of the sweater, how can you watch that show and not become obsessed I don't know? Seriously that show exudes obsession and compulsiveness :) If you haven't watched it yet you should...you won't regret it! BBC Masterpiece Mystery...on Netflix! I'll see you all next week now I'm off to celebrate Independence Day by sewing, knitting and eating yummy food :)

New Car, Sweaters, KAL and Sock Yarn...

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:35:00 +0000

I know I've been gone from this little corner of blogland for a while. I've been struggling a lot with some personal and medical issues (nothing serious or life threatening, but a pain nevertheless) so my desire to blog and create has been on the back burner. Don't get me wrong, I've been making stuff just not as quickly as I usually do ;) Also, summer is here and well I think it's going to take me the full three months to get into the summer schedule...right about the time I have to get used the new school schedule :)

There reason for mini-vacation from blogging explained. Now onto what you're all here for The 2012 Summer Sweater Knit-A-Long hosted by the Fantabulos Shannon of luvinthemommyhood! I'm excited to join in again this summer. Do you remember my sweater from last year?

Pumpkinlicious Cardi
Pattern Reversible Come and Go Sweater by Deborah Newton

Oh. My. Goodness. I just discovered that I never posted the finished picture! Ack! Well that's okay, I'm planning on tearing apart the fronts and turning the cardigan into a pullover. I'll show before and after pics when I work on it, you forgive me now I know :)

I have decided to knit myself a pullover. I really wanted to knit something seamless, preferably a top down (I love top downs). I fell head-over-heels in love with Umbrellas by Joji Locatelli this spring.

lilalu's umbrellas

As soon as I heard there was to be another summer sweater KAL I knew I wanted to knit this pattern. However, I wanted to buy yarn to knit it and was fully intending to do so but then our car died, it wasn't worth fixing and so we took the plunge and bought a new car. Husband loves it and it is a wonderful car, gets excellent MPGs and came in the perfect color for Husband (it's his commuter car) but it came with a car payment YUCK! So in a moment of rare responsibility I put off buying yarn for this sweater mostly because I wanted to knit with something new and fresh - when you read the words new and fresh it does the same thing vintage does to the price tag at the thrift store...it goes up.

So I tucked the pattern away in my mind, life moved on and so did my knitting and crafting, well sort of, and I started to look to my stash and see what I had and if there was a pattern in my collection of patterns that would work with yarn that I already have. Guess what? I have a lot of sock yarn...no socks...but lots of yarn. Different colors but most are in the same color family. Umbrellas is knit with sock yarn, could I make it work with my modge podge of sock yarn?

no, this isn't all the sock yarn I have but these are the yarns I'm going to use

Yesterday I looked through it all and concluded that yes I could but that it would look even better if I were able to find a couple more skeins of a sock yarn that I had the most of. A quick search on ravelry a few messages back and forth and winner winner chicken dinner I'm getting more yarn at a very reasonable price. I bought the pattern this morning and while I can't cast on until I finish another project I am very happy.

The color I'm getting more of :)

Stay tuned to see how it turns out. I'm going to be eternally optimistic about it and see it turning out incredibly well :) Now to finish my project and get started on this one...it'll take me all summer!

Wildflower Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:13:00 +0000

On a bright summer day a young girl went for a walk to look for some wildflowers for her Mum's kitchen. Mum hadn't been feeling well lately and the young girl thought some flowers would cheer her up. She passed by Farmer O'Neal's pasture and saw these lovely purple flowers and thought they would do nicely for Mum.

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There were also lovely little mums all over and she plucked those too. However, the walk had been rather long so she sat under the great tree to rest and make a few flower chains with the flowers. Flower chains were sure to cheer Mum up.

Source1 Source2

Yet as the day grew warmer the young girl grew tired and her eyes began to droop. The world took on an antique hue and the sky appeared to be filled with flower shaped clouds and the flowers that surrounded her were suddenly taller than she.

Source1 Source2

Standing up, the flower chain and bouquet forgotten, the young girl raced to return home for nothing looked the same. What had been Farmer O'Neal's pasture was now a meadow and where sheep grazed now aged wooden folding chairs stood. People in their Sunday Frippery filled those chairs as gentle music played from the string quartet that sat where the barn used to be.

The young girl was frightened at the change and yet drawn to The People just the same. As she drew in closer to them she told herself she would only ask for directions to her home, she needed to return home to Mum. Suddenly one of The People grabbed her, speaking softly that the ceremony was to begin and she must take her place.

No sooner had she seated herself than a beautiful woman who looked much like her Mum, only much younger, dressed in a gown of white began to walk down the aisle. It was then that the young girl realized she was at a wedding. She strained in her seat to see the groom but could not quite make out his face, for he was standing at a great distance from her.

As suddenly as The People had arrived they vanished , the quiet music still ringing in her ears and all that remained of her vision was a bouquet of wildflowers on a dark antique chair.

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The young girl pressed on, Mum would soon realize her absence and would worry. The sun had now shifted in the sky and late afternoon was upon her. Yet strangely, as if in a dream, the world around her became bigger or she became smaller she was not sure which. First it was the trees that no longer looked like trees but grew to the height of mountains. Grass that had crunched under her feet now was her height, flowers loomed overhead like trees.

What was this place? The young girl saw nary a bug but noticed the intricacies of each blade of grass, of the stems of the flowers and the water droplets. In awe of the great details she saw the young girl stopped, remembering her little sketch pad she kept in her pocket. She sat and drew in great detail the veins of each blade of grass, the way nutrients of the flowers glittered up the stem to the flower and how the petals of the flower vibrated with each drink the roots took in.

Exhausted from such a task the young girl laid down to rest among the flowers.

Source

When she awoke she noticed the flowers were of appropriate size but that the sun was now dipping lower in the sky quickly rising to her feet the young girl began walking again hoping to find some sign of where she was, how to get home. Mum was sure to be worried something fierce about her absence, she had been gone all day. As the young girl wandered, she noticed that the field began to cede and and a forest began. Tall evergreen trees stretched tall to the sky, like soldiers on watch over the life of the forest floor.

Pressing on into the forest the sun's evening rays glimmering in between the trees. A clearing diverged and the young girl took it and the sight she saw took her breath away. A cloud capped mountain and the suns lowering rays shining on the valley below showing the trail of a small river. She sat down upon a fallen tree and simply soaked in the sight.

Source 1 Source 2

Eyes closed she listened to the soft sounds of the end of day. Birds bustling to settle their chicks, crickets beginning their evening chant. The soothing sounds turned into vibrations. Not vibrations, no she was being shaken. Slowly her eyes opened and before her stood Farmer O'Neal a smile on his weathered faced.

Standing up the young girl realized she had fallen asleep under the great tree just past Farmer O'Neal's pasture. The bouquet of wildflowers still in her hands she quickly waved her goodbye to the farmer and ran home. She not only had beautiful flowers for Mum but a story to share as well.

I hope you enjoyed this short story. I know it has been a while since I've posted anything here, it is a season for sure. Life as a mother can be hard and sometimes there are moments when we just don't understand why we're feeling as we do. That is where I am today, where I'll probably be for a few more days. At times like these I find it extremely therapeutic to write, many things I write I don't share but today I set out to post a few lovely photos but when it came to writing a snippet about each picture a story came out instead. Please pay no mind to improper grammar or change in voice, it is but a first draft but as with most things related to therapy it needs no perfecting for it is what it is. My prayer is that it brightens your day as it has already brightened mine.

Buffy

Flirtatious Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:39:00 +0000

This weekend I made myself a new outfit. Honestly it wasn't an intentional plan I my part to make a new outfit but it happened and I loved it so much that well, I have to share it with you...

It's yellow too! A few weeks ago, after wearing orange every. single. day. (not that there is anything wrong with orange) I realized that I needed to break out of my color rut and try some new colors :)

I found this fabulous yellow cotton at my local quilt shop, it has a very light plaid design (not sure if you can see it...

So I quickly whipped up a pillowcase top for me, threw in a little gray for the ties and in just over an hour I had a top. The best part about the top is that it used just over 1/2 yard to make! I freely admit that when it isn't on I think it'll be too short but am always surprised when I put it on and it is the perfect length :)

The skirt is made out of that fantastic ruffled fabric. When I wore it to church Sunday I did have to tell everyone that it was the fabric and not my sewing ability to make all those ruffles (though I think I hear a challenge in that).

I picked up the ruffled fabric at Hobby Lobby on my Mother's Day excursion. It was on sale 30%, just too good of a deal for me to not pick up a 1 yard to try. The hardest part about the skirt is cutting it out and pinning down all those ruffles before sewing. I avoid pinning if I can. I took my hip measurement added 2 inches and then measured how long I wanted the skirt. Since the fabric is a knit you don't have to add for the hem. So I cut out a rectangle with the measurements, pinned the unfinished edges on each and every ruffle, then quickly stitched the one and only seam. Then I took some elastic for the waistband and just attached it like Dana shows on her Circle Skirt tute.

Fastest skirt I ever made, and probably the most comfortable. It doesn't cling, but flows and the ruffles hide all that you want to hide :)

So what do you think? You like? I love it! Best of all it isn't orange.

Sometimes You Just Have to Use a Big Garbage Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:10:00 +0000

I just read this amazing blog post Remove the Deadwood, Let the New Growth Begin and it spoke to my soul so perfectly and articulately that it brought tears to my eyes. I'm not a waterworks facility, I have only cried at one of my children's birth...so tears for me, big deal. So I want you to go read it...right now, then come back...

Wasn't his word picture fabulous? I know it was for me. The other day I was blessed to receive some second hand furniture: a bookshelf, a small side desk/table, and a computer chair. Now I try not to take everything people offer to me for free, my home is not the dump. However, I knew that I needed a few pieces of furniture to organize our stuff a little more, things we need/enjoy but were homeless in our house and created clutter.

So when I woke up the next morning my mind was full of thoughts of how to organize and make use of my new treasures. The area I was planning on organizing was my crafting space. This space is well loved and well used...the proof is in the threads on the floor, the scraps of fabric partying on my ironing board and the bags of notions still in limbo of use and put away. Yet, the disarray of supplies was beginning to mess with my ability to work. I was spending too much time trying to find things than I was sewing and creating. Nothing crushes creativity like a disorganized mess--by disorganized, I mean you actually don't know where something is, not that everything is lined up like the shelves at the fabric shop.

I knew it was time to clean, to pass things on and make room for new ideas. Yet, within all of us lurks a hoarder, the desire to hang on to the past for just a little longer. In middle school I had hundreds of movie stubs cluttering my dresser top...I just didn't want to throw away the reminder of time spent with friends. In high school, I kept every assignment, for all my classes, for four years because I wanted to remember every grade, every job well done, every word of praise from a teacher. In College I kept all my clothes, the ones that fit and the ones that didn't because money was tight and I might not make it to the laundromat every week. You get the point.

Now that I'm a mother, living in a small space with 5 kids and Husband I've given up on keeping all the little trinkets my kids bring home. It isn't that the stuff doesn't have value to me, but that I know that more stuff will come and take the place of the things I've tossed. Still, the memory hoarder in me has a hard time letting my craft stuff go. Yet I knew that was exactly what I was going to have to do. I was going to have to get rid of projects unfinished, fabric never used, supplies untouched and my stomach clenched at the prospect.

So that's what I did. I tossed projects I've never finished. I gave away fabric I hadn't used and I made space. Space for new growth, space for new projects and space for my family to use more effectively.

I'm not 100% done with my organization but it looks much better. I can actually find things again. Because I got rid of fabric I'll never use, projects I'll never finish I also have more room for new fabric which is good because I just bought some :)

What about you? Have you been cleaning and organizing? Have you found how freeing it can be to let go of the overgrowth and embrace what you truly love? It's been a while so let's chat!

I've Been Sewing, honest!

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:19:00 +0000

Just because I haven't blogged about any recent creations lately doesn't mean I haven't been creating. In fact in four days I made 4 garments for myself...none of which were orange :) I haven't had a chance to get around to taking pictures of one dress that I made but here are pictures of 3 things that I made.

The first up is this skirt...

You see I've kind of been in a dress funk and while I love it, some days you just want to wear a top (not that you can't wear a top over a dress, I'm doing that today) but a skirt is really nice too. Except that I am over the top picky about skirts...I want them to look slimming but trendy and easy to put on but go with what I've got. I saw this skirt...

source

on Pinterest and knew I had to try and make it myself. This is attempt #1 and I love it!

I would have made the waistband withe the same striped fabric but I didn't have enough.

This skirt took about 2 yards to make since it is cut on the bias. I probably spent more time cutting the fabric out than I did sewing it together. However, taking your time with striped or plaid fabrics is well worth it as the time you spend cutting out you save when you sit down to sew...I pin a little and then just chug it out and my lines always match up because I cut them to do so.

Now I just need to make a maxi length one :)

I have fallen in love with peasant tops, in the sense that they've never gone out of fashion. Look fabulous on just about everyone. Can be made from woven or knit fabric. Though more importantly are beyond easy to make. I thought it would be fun to make a tunic length top that I could wear alone or under one of my many MODify dresses.

What tunic isn't made perfect with leggings? So in a couple evenings time I whipped up a pattern for a tunic and leggings and made this wonderful outfit...

I added fun button detail on the leggings

My wardrobe is now 50%-60% handmade and the rest store bought. There is nothing like going out wearing something you made for yourself. Sometimes I do get comments about where I found something and it is great to be able to say that I made it.

I hope you all have a great weekend. I'm trying hard not to go insane or start counting down the days until September when I'll have 3 kids in school all day.

31 Days of Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:47:00 +0000

So the other day (alright, last night) I was checking out the new things on Pinterest and found this:

via Fat Mum Slim

Now if you've spent any amount of time searching the blog sphere you've probably run across the challenge Project 365, which has taken many shapes and forms but the general idea is that you take a picture everyday for an entire year. I'll leave you to research the reasons you might accept a challenge such as that.

Back to the above pic. I was immediately taken by the fact that instead of just randomly taking a singular picture everyday for a month, the creator had given ideas to what to take each day. If I'm completely honest if I were to take a picture everyday (I sort of do already) they would almost 100% of the time be of my kids. Not that they aren't adorable, they are, still if something is going to be challenging it needs to have the ability to step out of your comfort zone.

So today, being May 1st I decided to have a go at this. Not in the casual, well if it doesn't work out no biggie, but in the I'm going to take a picture everyday for the month of May and share them with the world...or as much of the world as I can. My reason is namely to get myself in the habit of not just taking pictures for posterity, or for the blog, or for family and friends but to see the meaning behind the picture. To stretch myself as I learn photography and learn the artistic side of photography too.

With all that in mind I share...

I know, I know it's a picture of my son...but really it isn't. Let me explain. Today the goal was to photograph peace. I have always been of the conviction that while a hot bubble bath, good book and a nice cup of hot cocoa is peaceful, more or less that is restful. Peace to me isn't the avoidance of conflict, anytime you put two people in the same room conflict arises large or small. No, peace true and complete peace is the ability to continue with what you were doing a midst the trials and noise of conflict.

So this morning as I sat at the table reading Mean Moms Rule (a fabulous book too) I looked up to catch my son playing with his cars and I was struck by the peace I found in the scene. My 2-year-old in only his diaper, pen mark on his face, paint chipping on his highchair tray playing most contently with his cars as his older brothers watched a movie, his sister ran around the house as the princess and his mother read a book sipping chai tea. He found that in spite of his surroundings and the relative chaos he could focus on one thing and do that one thing well.

That my dear friends is peace. Knowing that no matter what happens, who is doing what, how you're feeling, if the laundry is done or there are groceries in the fridge; that you can still focus on one solitary thing and accomplish it well.

Here's to more pictures about the beauty we find in life! Hope you find your peaceful moment today too!

It Feels Good to be Thrifty

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:01:00 +0000

Well last Friday I woke up and my first thought was, I should go thrifting today. I did try to talk myself out of it, but the idea had taken such deep root in my mind that not even liquid nitrogen could eradicate it...so I went thrifting, with four kids. It. was. AWESOME.

I actually only went to one thrift store and found all my little recycling heart desired...and then some. I found shoes for all the kids with me...two were like brand new, two were name brand...it was a great day. There was a lot of craftilicious finds but I'll spare you all the deets and just show off the great fabric finds.

First I saw this amazing fabric...

The color is actually more red than pink but is a yummy satin and I'm dying to make something with it. I paid $1.99 for the piece which measures 4 and 5/8 yards and is 58 inches wide. Score!

Next up is this pretty bit of fabric...

It is a lovely striped organza fabric of several different colors, some of which are sheer. Elsa proclaimed this fabric as 'mine' when she saw it. For $.99 how could I say no? Plus there is 2 yards of it, perfect for adding a little color to a dress or skirt!

I saw this fabric and fell instantly in love...

In fact I loved it so much that Saturday night I made another MODify dress out of it to wear to church on Sunday. The fabric was $.99 and there was just over 2 yards. When was the last time you found the best dress ever for $.99? That's what I thought.

The last bit of fabric that I found was this...

Yup, more organza. It is so pretty and I love how the green and blue blend into each other. It set me back $.99 for 2 yards...I know I'm a big spender.

I also picked up a duvet cover and matching pillow shams for a whopping $5.99. It graces my bed already and I love it!

So what do you think? Did I make out like a bandit? I think so, $5 for over 10 yards of fabric is pretty amazing. Have you been thrifting lately? Scored some great deals? I'd love to hear about them :)

A Bit of Randomness

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:59:00 +0000

1. Currently I'm uploading 85 pictures to photobucket...it will take a while.
2. I love photobucket...you can save, share, and edit your pictures. It isn't like Picnik but it works enough for me.
3. The kids and I went to the park today...so much fun.
4. I've decided the housework can wait today, Fun is on the agenda today.
5. Days like this make me excited for summer.
6. I know that this day is fleeting and tomorrow I could be running around like wild banshee.
7. I hope I'm not though.
8. I went thrifting on Friday.
9. Should have pics for you tomorrow.
10. My secret project is coming along nicely.
11. When I was little I couldn't keep a secret, now as an adult I love them...anticipation is so highly underrated.
12. I made three garments on Saturday night.
13. I need to practice my self-photography.
14. May is almost here, that's when my Daddy's birthday is.
15. I bought patterns from Magpie Patterns today...you should too.

I hope you enjoyed this small moment of complete randomness. I'm not ashamed to admit that this is how my mind works most of the time. I hope someone thinks like this too, otherwise I'm alone in the thought world. Have a fabulous spring day.

Note: The patterns I bought was for an infant footie romper to be made out of woven fabric and an embroidery pattern.

Because I'm a Brave Super Mom...

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:41:00 +0000

Well, maybe the title is a stretch but I will admit that I had to put on my Super Mom cape for what I did today. I took this adorable little girl...

Stuck her in a chair...

Took lots of before pictures...

The I grabbed a spray bottle, clips, comb and *gasp* scissors and did what needed to be done...

A HAIR CUT!

Personally I think she looks uber adorable with it and I look at it in disbelief that I actually did this myself.

The layers, the shaping around the face, the trimming of the bangs. The whole shebang! All me. Yup, I'm a little prideful here (you'll forgive me later right?). Though honestly I was certain I'd screw it up so bad that the money I was trying to save by doing it myself I'd end up spending to have it fixed. I am so grateful that I pay really close attention when my hair stylist cuts my hair, it paid off today.

What do you think? I know her curls will bounce up with the lightness of her hair now. Is there something you've done lately that you had to be brave about? Something you need to do but haven't because you're lacking the courage? I say do it and reap the benefits! And by benefits I mean cute hair without food stuck in the ends :)

Waiting For The Bus

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:50:00 +0000

Well it's been a little while since I've posted some pictures of the kids in real life. You know, not posing and sporting some new creation of mine. Today is the day. We're currently down to one vehicle for a while so I had to take Vinny to the bus and grabbed my camera and grabbed a few (okay a lot) of pics of the kids and scenery. Here's what I got...

I've been trying really hard to bring my camera along with me wherever I go so that I can practice taking pictures. I've been adjusting everything from the white balance to the aperture...it is fun practicing and the kids really like being my subjects...for now.

Hope you're having a great Tuesday!

An Encouraging Word

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:46:00 +0000

source 1, source 2

One of the greatest things that you can do to encourage or lift up a friend that is suffering whether from a long term illness such as endometriosis or just a friend having a hard day is to write a note. So often I think people don't realize how incredibly uplifting it is to get a card, note, text, or email can be to someone having a really bad day. Especially if it you're on the 7th bad day in a row!

source 1, source 2

While a homemade card is alway lovely, but don't let your lack of cards prevent you from reaching out. If all you have is email then email, if you only have time to text then text because I guarantee that just the recepient will be grateful! I know that when I'm having a really hard time I go back and read the cards/letters/emails that I've recieved from friends and they really lift my spirits and make the day that much easier to get through.

source 1, source 2

I suppose the next thing that prevents us from writing notes to our friends is not knowing what to write. However, what to write is really the easy part as it doesn't take much time or need to be eloquent and in our very best penmanship, perfection isn't the point the time we've taken and the words we have to say are. Here are a few ideas...

     *write about what you admire/respect most about them
     *text an encouraging/inspiring quote/Bible verse
     *write about a good thing you've witnessed about their children
   *remind them about the good character traits they are instilling in their children
   *write about how they inspire you

source 1, source 2

A good rule of thumb is to write what you would want to hear when you're having a bad day. When I'm having a bad day or am really sick I need to hear how I'm not damaging my children permanently by letting them watch Cars 2 twice in one day or perpetually kicking them outside so that I can have some quiet time. I want to hear that the messy house won't always be messy, that a few bad weeks isn't going to put me on the next episode of Hoarders.

source 1, source 2

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that just a few words spoken in kindness and truth can help you as well. On my bad days I will spend time writing notes to people because making someone else feel better makes me feel better.

Do you have any tips for writing a great note? Leave in the comments below. Have you been blessed by a simple note from a friend, or a well timed text? Share that below as well, we all need to be reminded how the simple things in life truly are the best things.

I'm Gonna Do It!

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:07:00 +0000

Well Shannon from luvinthemommyhood and Becca from Nook. have spun up a new knit along (haha, did you catch my pun, totally intentional). I was sooooo excited to find out about it and waited on needles with a cable hook to find out what we were going to be knitting next. I confess I was hoping it would be shawls as I just got some ah.maz.ing Madelinetosh yarn that is crying to be knit up into a shawl. However it wasn't. If I'm totally honest I was a little let down by the choice as *gasp* it was something I'm nervous to make. What is it that we're making? Tops, Tanks & Tees...well really the and should be or unless you're a crazy fast knitter who could make more than one garment in a month.

In spite of my fear of knitting a top for myself I knew I had to join in. I have loved these online KALs so much. The conversations on ravelry, the different patterns, the different yarn and best of all the encouragement and accountability to actually finish what you start (a serious problem of mine, not finishing). I started my pattern search by diving into my pattern collection. I've only been knitting for 6 years but boy oh boy do I have a lot of patterns. I'm a knitting magazine junkie! I weeded out the patterns by only looking for magazines that were the Spring/Summer editions and found a mag that had tons of summer top patterns that I loved and would happily make.

Yet I've been conditioned to be cautious about magazine patterns. Especially if the models of said patterns are small and twig like in stature. So I picked my top three pattern choices and went to ravelry to look them up, see who had made them, if there were problems with the pattern, but most importantly to see if anyone of my build and fat content had made one and looked good in it. I'm so glad I did because when I entered in one of my tank choices a little thumbnail picture popped up as a possible suggestion and I fell head over heels in love with it.

Frantically I searched to see if the pattern had been knit by someone my size...it had and she looked AMAZING in it. Then I noticed that the pattern was from an old Vogue mag...2008. I wasn't too disappointed as I could buy just that pattern but I remembered that my bestie subscribes to Vogue Knitting, maybe she had a copy of the magazine so that I could borrow it. She did! Oh victory oh victory! The next best part is that I had yarn in my stash for it. So I'm out $0 for the KAL a fact that husband is grateful for. Well grateful for now, because as I'm using up my stash soon I'll have to actually go out and buy yarn and the longer I knit the more expensive my yarn tastes get :)

The KAL runs April 11 thru May 23, which is 6 weeks a perfect amount of time for a top. Especially since I've gone and changed the gauge from 5 stitches to the inch to 7 stitches to the inch. I had to cast on 252 stitches and I'll work a K2P2 rib for 13 inches! I timed myself...it takes me 11 minutes to work one round! Still I know I'll love having this in a finer gauge, it will add to the drape and look more professional in my opinion.

So what do you think? Do you love the pattern? The yarn is discontinued now but it was given to me and you just can't beat free! Stay tuned for more progress :)

Amelia Bedelia Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Well, Season 4 of Project Run & Play has begun and I decided that I will participate in the at home Sew Along. I contemplated this the last season, but really I needed clothes not the kids...a few week later and that has changed.

This week's challenge is to refashion the Circle Skirt by Dana. I must admit that my first thought was how do you refashion a skirt except to make it into a dress? I have since then thought of other options...including making a pair of pants. But I didn't do that. No, I stuck with the first idea that came to mind which was a dress.

As I made this I realized what kind of designer I am...I am a design as you go. That isn't to say I can't sketch out an idea, take notes and try to make it...but I feel much better with my finished product when just cut out fabric and go! Which is what I did here.

Really, it's an Amelia Bedelia dress, because I put a little of this and a little of that and came up with a dress that has no closures, but is still easy enough for Husband to put on his princess and has enough flair that Elsa will wear it but is still able to climb, swing and get messy in.

see the dirt on the back?

Part of me felt like it was missing something but I just can't think of anything and my high school art teachers wise advice rang in my ears "When you think you're almost done, STOP! Go any further and you'll ruin it." Best advice ever.

This is what I did. I cut out the circle skirt per directions. I sewed on the the waistband which is just cotton fabric that was a few inches short of the full circumference of the waist of the skirt. I then shirred the waistband at 1/8 inch intervals. Then I added a box pleat in the back to fully enclose the waistband (just a little zigzag over the edges). Next I made a peasant top. I knew that I wanted and empire waist in the front but a natural waist in the back so it isn't even on purpose. It give the skirt a little (2 inch maybe) train...but I love it!

sorry it's a little blurry...action pictures

Well what do you think? True to my goal I made some of it with yellow fabric to show my support for those suffering from endometriosis and raise awareness too. Elsa actually wore this Sunday for Easter and I really think she loves the twirl of the skirt.

So I Observed Lent...

noreply@blogger.com (Passionate Design) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

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I didn't blog about this earlier partly because I was so busy, though mostly because it was an extremely personal decision and I wanted to see it to the end before broadcasting it to the world. However on February 22, 2012 I gave up almost all refined sugar for Lent. Almost meaning I allowed natural sugars (fruit, honey), ate bread with sugar if it was pre-made (if I made it, it was sugar free), I also allow yogurt and organic cane juice. I also allowed Sunday's to be a day a celebration and if I was offered sugar I didn't refuse... incidentally only 2 Sunday's were opportunities to imbibe in sugar.

source1 source 2

What I learned is:

1) I have amazing self-control when I place God in control of my appetite
2) Creativity in the kitchen. Stevia, true stevia not Truvia, is wonderful and actually too sweet for me but great for making pudding.
3) I have a fabulous husband who made me a chocolate sauce from honey, cocoa powder & water.
4) The first week is the hardest.
5) I feel a deep sense of self-worth, an appreciation of what I accomplished and of my closer relationship with the Lord.

source 1 source 2

Honestly, I wasn't sure how I was going to do. Giving up on things hasn't always been my best attribute. Yet for almost 40 days I have abstained from sugar.

source

Do I plan to go back, yes and no. Everyone preaches moderation and now on the other end of the fast I know I can bring that into the picture. Before I was so accustomed and addicted to the idea of sweet treats that I consumed too much without thinking. Yet now I weigh my food choices more intelligently. I think before I eat and eat not out of want but of need. Also, I've lost 12 pounds and this is the only change I made, this tells me how important I keep on top of the sweets.

source 1 source 2

Tomorrow I'm going to break my fast...not sure with what but I will make it and keep my portion small. I am excited but fretful too, for now I'll only allow a sweet treat once a week.

What about you? Any sacrifices you've made give back double? Something you'd like to give up? Let's chat!