Family Friday: May 2

Last weekend, I took a four-day trip to Kauai with Laura and her mom.  That means that Johnnie and Cameron (and Dulce) had some wonderful daddy-daughter bonding time!

They even went on some dates out for dinner! ♥

There was big excitement when a Hawaiian Monk Seal decided to sleep the day away on the beach right in front of our house!  This the second time Johnnie has seen a seal on our beach and I've missed it both times.  This is the first time that Cam got to see one and she was really excited!  I am so glad that they got to watch it sleep, roll around, and then shuffle its way back into the ocean.  I am also very glad that our sweet neighbor was out watching it with them and took lots of photos that she shared with me!

While our guests were here, we went to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet where I saw a hammock chair that would go perfectly on the empty hook hanging from the ceiling above our deck.  The vendor told me I wouldn't find a better deal anywhere ($90) so of course I went home and ordered one on Amazon (which included pillows and free shipping) for less than half of his price.  The chair was waiting for me when we returned from Kauai.  It is amazing.  Cameron loves it as much as I do!

This is my happy place.  I am so thankful for every day we spend living here.

A couple days after returning from Kauai, we said good-bye to our guests.  Laura was here for three weeks and was more like a roommate than a guest.  She worked on her computer for eight hours a day so there was no change to our life at all and I appreciated the help and company when she wasn't working.  Cameron had a great time with Laura and her mom and searched every room for them often for a few days after they left.

I got out my painting supplies last week and painted some beach rocks for no particular reason other than feeling crafty and the fact that painting, coloring, and doodling are things that soothe my mind.

I have a bad habit of not putting things away when I'm done so after looking at the painting supplies on the table for a few days, I decided to let Cameron have some fun with them.  And no, I still haven't put them away... maybe tomorrow :)

This is the first time Cameron has ever used any kind of paint - who needs finger paints when you can start with acrylics?  The paper she painted on is Canson Acrylic Paper which is heavyweight, textured, and doesn't buckle when wet.  I think she had more fun mixing the paints on the palette than actually painting the paper.  I had a container of baby wipes next to me that easily cleaned up any misplaced paint on her or the floor around her.

Not bad for a her first painting masterpiece at almost 20 months old!  I see a bird flying in the upper right corner, breaking free from turmoil.  Genius!  Of course every mother thinks their child is a genius, right?  :)  I will definitely get the paints out periodically to watch her art develop.  When I was in grad school, my final project for an instructional technology class was creating an interactive computer program that taught about the stages of artistic development in children.  Therefore, I know what to expect with children's art and it will be so much fun to see it develop in real life!

My weekend getaway to Kauai was fantastic and rejuvenating.  Time away (even if it's just to a store alone) is important for any stay-at-home mom because it's the only time you can truly turn off your mind from the constant go-go-go mode of mommyhood.  Life here is quiet but always busy.  I am enjoying the days alone with my girls for another week until more guests arrive.  Our time in Hawaii is limited so it's best that family visits while they can!

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"Every day you are alive is a special occasion.

Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God."

~Mary Manin Morrissey

DIY Pacifier Leash Tutorial

One of our cannot-live-without baby items is a pacifier leash.  It keeps the pacifier from falling to the floor and therefore needing washed.  If you have a baby, you know that a dirty pacifier is a tragedy when you are out and have a fussy baby!  Now that Cameron can put the pacifier in her mouth by herself, the leash also keeps it within her reach.

I bought a pacifier leash that we used for months.  I love that it kept the pacifier off of the floor but I didn't love that I couldn't take the clip off.  I needed to wash it often because Cameron likes to suck on the leash as much as she likes on the pacifier that it's attached to it.  Despite hand washing and drying it, the metal still began to rust.  I know that this was partly from me washing it and partly from Cameron's saliva.  Of course I don't don't want her to suck on something rusty so we needed a new one.

Pacifier leashes are such a simple design that I had no doubt that I could make some myself... and with a removable clip so that I could easily wash them and replace the clip if ever needed.

My first attempt worked but I am too much of a perfectionist to be happy with the reinforcing stitches that were necessary and visible.

After a day of contemplation, I figured out how to change the design to make it stronger with even more reinforcing stitches and more professional looking because those stitches are all hidden away inside.  I am thrilled with the result!

Materials needed:

• 19 inches of ribbon
• 4.5 inches of thin elastic
• 2 pieces of velcro the width of the ribbon
• 1 suspender clip
• coordinating thread

How to sew the ribbon and elastic:

Sew on your two pieces of velcro, leaving enough space in between for the clip.

Attach the suspender clip to the leash and you're done!

They are quick and easy to make.  I made two during Cameron's morning nap and still had time to get other things done before she woke up :)

Because the loop is elastic, it can easily go around toys to become a "toy leash"!

Washing these pacifier leashes is so simple without a metal clip to worry about!  I simply remove the clip and throw the leash in the wash with a load of her clothes.  I have even put the leashes in the dishwasher basket along with her pacifiers and then let them air dry.

The pacifier leash is Cameron tested and approved :)

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"Sewing fills my days, not to mention the living room, bedroom, and closets."

~Author Unknown

Grommets

I just finished my first project for Baby G's room and I'm thrilled with the finished product!  That first project was finishing/fixing the curtains by adding grommets to the top.  I haven't revealed anything about Baby G's nursery yet, so let me back up:

I always knew how I would decorate a baby boy's nursery but when we found out that Baby G was a girl, I drew a blank.  I searched the internet for bedding sets that I liked and decorating ideas but nothing appealed to me.  I'm not a fan of cartoony baby decorations or extra frilly girly things.  Besides the fact that all bedding sets came with a crib skirt, a bumper, and a quilt.  It's not recommended to even use a bumper or quilt in a crib now, so I didn't see the point of purchasing an entire set!  When I realized that all I needed was a crib skirt and curtains... inspiration finally struck :)

We had a guest room in our house in Georgia that I loved.  I have decided to use the curtains, artwork, and color scheme in Baby G's nursery to make it a sophisticated, feminine, and tranquil space.  At least until she's old enough to decide that hot pink is her favorite color and wants to redecorate :)

The windows in our house are just a bit wider than standard so the curtains didn't cover the entire window.  Luckily I was able to easily unstitch the pleats at the top which extended the width just enough.  However, that made the simple clips at the top look too small and insignificant and the curtains were just a bit too long.

Walking through a local craft store recently, I spotted curtain grommets in the sewing section.  I never realized these were something that I could purchase and install myself!  Of course the only craft store chain on this island is extremely limited and only had one color available.  Thank goodness for Amazon!  I ordered 2 packs of the color I wanted (champagne) and each pack was $6 cheaper than in the craft store!  Have I ever mentioned that the prices in Hawaii are outrageous?

The grommets were super easy to install, look fantastic, and solved the length issue without having to hem the curtains.  If and when I make my own curtains someday, I will be using grommets like these again.  They are plastic but it's hard to tell once they are installed and hanging up.

The grommets come in packs of 8 and I used one pack per curtain.  I spaced the grommets about 4 inches apart, 1 inch down from the top.  The two halves of the grommet simply snap together.  They are easily pried apart if you need to remove or readjust them.

The grommets come with a template to draw a circle.  You cut the circle out, position half of the grommet beneath the fabric and then snap the top piece into place.  These curtains are a medium-weight  fabric and lined so I had to press the grommet halves against the floor with my palm to snap them together.  All in all, this was a very easy project to do with great results!

"Before and After" pictures... big improvement!

Future projects for the nursery include making a crib skirt, a custom name art piece for the wall, and a memory ribbon board for the wall.

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“Think left and think right and think low and think high.

Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try.”

~Dr. Seuss

Dream BIG

I have a billion and one hobbies, or at least it seems that way.  I have many talented artistic and musical family members and relatives so I like to think that it runs in our blood.  I really hope that Baby G inherits and enjoys my crafty and musical abilities :)

Although I love creating art and crafty projects, I don't really consider myself a true "artist" because I've really never created anything completely unique... yet.  I admit that I'm a copycat when it comes to art.  I pull ideas and inspiration from other people and things.  Perhaps that's why Pinterest is one of my favorite websites :)  The unoriginal art that I create is simply for my own home or as gifts for friends.  It satisfies my crafty desires, gives me a challenge, and saves a ton of money.  I could never buy art or a crafty item to put in our house if it is something that I could have recreated myself!

My paints and painting supplies have been in storage since the end of 2010.  I am thrilled to finally have them all back and was itching to use them!  Luckily, one of my neighbors just had a baby girl which gave me the perfect excuse.  Soon I'll start working on some artwork for Baby G's nursery :)

Artist canvases can be really expensive to buy.  Making your own is much cheaper and gives you unlimited size options.  Many years ago, I used a 40% off coupon at Michael's Craft Store and bought a huge roll of primed canvas that is over four feet wide and six yards long - that is going to make a LOT of canvases!  Canvas stretcher bars are inexpensive and easy to use.  You buy four of whatever size you choose, slide them together, and secure the joints with a staple gun.  I spent less than $8 on the bars for my custom 14 x 16 canvas.

Once your frame is together, you simply need to cut and staple gun the canvas to the frame.  Look at a ready-made canvas to see how to cut and fold the corners for a professional appearance.  Stretch the canvas as tight as you can but don't worry about getting it drum tight.  There is a product called "Canvas Tite" that will help you out with that.  Simply brush Canvas Tite on the back of your finished canvas, let it dry, and the canvas will shrink to a perfect tight fit - it doesn't get any easier than that!

This vintage airplane print from SevenElevenStudios on Etsy was my inspiration for this art project:

I chose colors that match my friend's nursery and changed the airplane to a silhouette of a C-17 cargo plane which is what her husband flies.  The background is the only thing I did freehand.  The letters and the plane were printed out on paper and then traced onto the painted background using an art projector or carbon transfer paper.  Once the outlines are lightly traced, it's a matter of painting between the lines and adding detail.

When the painting was completely dry, I finished it with a coat of Krylon Kamar Varnish.  This is a non-yellowing varnish for oil, acrylic, or watercolor art.  It has a slight sheen to it but it isn't glossy, and it dries quickly for lasting protection.

Dream BIG, baby girl!

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"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

~Henry David Thoreau

Dulce's Dog Cave

Dulce has had many sleeping arrangements in her two years with us.  She started out in a soft-sided crated which she eventually chewed apart.  Then she switched to a dog bed (which she still sleeps in during the day now) but she woke us up early every morning.  Then she slept in our bed for a while (which allowed us to sleep in) but she sprawls out taking up too much space and dog hair in the bed is no good.  We've finally found a solution that works for all of us.

When we moved to Korea, we bought her a travel crate for the plane ride.  As it turned out, she liked the crate and would take naps in it during the day.  We moved it into the bedroom and it became the perfect sleeping quarters for her.  We found out that if we cover the crate, she sleeps soundly in "her cave" through the night and stays quiet until we let her out in the morning... no matter how late we sleep in!

Dulce's doggy blanket did the job of covering her crate for a while, but I decided the crate needed a more stylish cover.  I used some soft fabric I bought at Happy Quilt, some ribbon I bought at the Yangjae Flower Market, and some iron-on decorations I bought Michael's craft store on my recent trip back to the States.  The result is something that looks somewhat-decorative sitting in the corner of our bedroom :)

Embroidered iron-on letters for her name

Some decorative bows

Our last name is Green so I bought a large iron-on that says "Live, Love, Green" :)

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"You can't use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have."

~Maya Angelou

Skillfully Waiting

My friend's due date has come and gone... and still there is no baby.  To help pass the time, we decided to be crafty and make our own custom picture ribbon board.  A ribbon board is a plush, fabric-covered board with criss-crossing ribbons between which you can display photos and other momentos without the need for tacks or tape.  We took a trip to Michael's craft store and JoAnn Fabrics to buy the necessary supplies.  We collected fabric, plush batting, ribbon, buttons, a staple gun and staples, canvas stretcher bars, scissors, a sewing needle, thread, and a tape measure.

Canvas stretcher bars are sold separately, allowing you to buy the 4 sides in the lengths of your choice.  We chose to make our ribbon board 20 x 30 inches.  I decided to use stretcher bars for this project (rather than the typical bulletin board) because it is easier to customize the size and the overall project weighs a lot less.

First we fit the stretcher bars together and stapled them at the joints.  Next, we tightly stetched our base fabric over the frame and stapled it into place.

Next we stretched and stapled the plush batting into place, trimming the corners to keep the batting flat.

We cut and ironed the top fabric before we stretched and stapled it into place, leaving enough overhang to tuck under the bars for a more finished look.

Arranging the ribbon took some work.  After much rearranging and measuring, we finally figured it out BUT we ran out of ribbon!  We had to make another trip to JoAnn Fabrics to pick up more.  The ribbon was cut to size and stapled to the back of the frame.

Next we sewed buttons at each intersection of ribbon.  We picked some decorative buttons of varied sizes for the front and plain white buttons for the back.  We sewed the front and back buttons to each other through the fabric, pulling tightly to create a slight puckered look.

To make our ribbon board hangible, we used this amazing little clip that simply slides into place - no tools needed.

The completed back:

The completed front:

Our finished project hanging on the wall:

This was such a simple project, so much fun to make, and the final product looks great.  It helped pass the time and occupied our hands and minds for while... until my friend's water broke while she was sewing on the final button!  After hanging our project on the wall and gathering our things, we headed off to hospital to await the arrival of a new little baby boy or girl :)

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"I'll be waiting; I can't smile until I see your smile.
I'll be waiting; There's nothing else that I would rather do.
I'll be waiting; 'cause I can't sleep until I hear your heart.
I'll be waiting; patiently I'll wait right here for you."

-Beyonce