I'm taking a blog break for a while. Have a great time everyone. xoxo

Me vacuum sealed

Me vacuum sealed
Originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

Fresh from the meat department, no expiration date.
looks like I put a little lotion on my face and neck too, I guess for longivity.
All done with photoshop.
(look at what strange things I do when I'm bored while nursing at the computer!) LOL!

I'm trying out a new baby sitter!

I've never had a baby sitter for the boys except for my oldest sister Joni, she watches the boys when I have a appointments for hair, doctor or lately my sewing classes to learn how to work all the bells and whistles on my new Bernina. The only problem is, is that I feel like I owe her for baby sitting and she refuses money and she's on a diet so I can't bring her candy or sweets! LOL!
That's what I'd want if I was watching someones kids... let me tell ya!
I brought her a bouquet of flowers the time before last but her kids are all older so trading is out. I am eternally grateful for her helpfulness but Hubby and I just decided that we needed someone that we could call on to watch the boys when we needed a date night and a baby sitter would be great.
Someone that would be thrilled to make a little cash and I wouldn't feel like I owed them anything except a little $. :)
She's 14 and coming over in the morning to play with the boys while I try to get some sewing done. Spring break is this week so it's perfect to try her out.
I so hope the boys like her and she likes them, I want to get all my non-essential stuff cleaned out of the basement this summer and have a huge garage sale and donate a bunch so I can have a true craft room (not just behind the sofa!) with a place for the boys to play while I'm sewing.
I have lots of craft supplies that I will probably won't ever use so I've been toying with the idea of listing it in my shop for cheap. Like Sam Walton of Wal-Mart always said "Stack it Deep and Sell it Cheap!" I just need to get the deep stacks out of my basement!
So wish me luck on the baby sitter thing and hopefully all goes well and Daddy and Mama can go have a date some night! Yeah baby! :o)
We soooo need it.....

The computer is back! Yipee!!!

Can you believe it? 1 month and 10 days later, I can seriously say that I will probably never purchase anything from CompUSA again.
I called the other day when we were at the zoo and finally got thru to the tech department and they said my computer was in, did they call my house or my cell to tell me like they said they would? NO!!!
I would have been really mad if I went all the way home (45 miles one way) and found out it was in. gurr.
THEN... when I went in to pick it up the power cord wasn't with it and I asked the guy where it was and he said "let me go check" and he came back with a piece of paper that said N/A where they check for power cord!
I never took my laptop case out of the van so I know I left it with them, well like a wimp I am I said OK, I'll check at home but I will be very angry if it isn't there and it's still at the store! It wasn't at the house of course, so I called and they just happened to have one that would fit.
So I sent my husband to work with my precious laptop and he stopped by and picked it up on the way home from work.
Unless somethings really really bad, I don't think I'll ever turn my little baby into there tech shop again!
On a better note, they didn't wipe all my information off the computer so it's just like it was when it left. yipee!
Have a great weekend everyone. xoxo

Me and the boys at the zoo

Me and the boys at the zoo
Originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

I picked up a really cute picture frame the other day at Hobby Lobby that's decorated like it's a scrapbook page and has MOM and a sweet definition on it, so I decided I needed a cute picture with me and the boys for it, and today was supposed to get up above 75 (it did!) and yesterday my Mother-in-law called and wanted to go to lunch and shopping for my birthday so I figured a cute picture would have to wait. We ended up meeting for lunch and we all went to the zoo together and then shopping. Fun day indeed!
Then I woke up at 5:45 am and realized that the hubby was still in bed! I guess it was just going to be too pretty of a day today to go to work, when I asked him if he had hit the snooze button too many times he told me he was planning to stay home and take us to the zoo! We have a family membership but the zoo is huge and we usually don't get to all of it, well we did today and I am beat!
I usually go to bed around midnight but I think I'm heading there at 10 tonight! Too much sitting in the house all day and all this sunshine and walking wiped me out! I'm a puss. :oP
See my shirt? I got bleach on it the other day and decided to get my bleach pen out drew some flowers and squigglies and butterflies, it
's OK but I think I'll add some fabric paint to decorate it a little more.
I'll post pictures when it looks right. :o)

New Binky Blanket Sample

New Binky Blanket Sample
Originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

It's a bit smaller then the original just because it's a sample.
I can't decide if I want to call it..
Binky Tamer
Blueberry Mama Binky Boss (my favorite so far)
The Binky Wrangler
I would love to hear imput from anyone! :)

I made my first bias tape ever last night!
I used the instructions I found online
HERE and HERE And then I used a Bias Making Tool you can get just about anywhere but here's a pic HERE
It was pretty easy but time consuming the first time, but now I know what I'm doing so the next time should be alot easier! hopefully!
One of the good things about making my own is that I can have just about any color or pattern I want and a little fabric makes a ton of bias tape! LOL!
This sample is also made out of white flannel instead of terry, it's so much easier to sew on, not messy and has nice results.
I'm going to check into the high quality flannel the quilt stores sell to see if it doesn't pill as bad as the regular stuff.
The colors are much brighter in person, I haven't installed my photo shop elements program on this computer.
I just called CompUSA and my computer is still in Texas! ARG!
Oh and I also found my cell and I was the one that lost it, NOT GUS!
(I'm sorry I blamed you Gussers xoxo)
It was in my computer hutch in my address book that I was using earlier that day.
I found it at 4 am when I got up to let my dog out to go potty, the house was quiet (amazing!) and I actually got enough signal to hear it ring 2 times!!! Yipee!!!
Have a great weekend everyone!

$$$ Cha Ching! $$$

Well, my husband stopped by CompUSA and talked to the store manager, he was very apologetic about the all the problems and poor service and said that they had fired most of the tech help in the past month and that he was very sorry about what had happened.
I guess he really didn't want my husband to call his superior because when he asked Dan "what can I do to make this right? Dan replied "refund my warranty fee!" and he did!!!!!
He gave Dan $397.00 cash!!!
Wow! that's going to make a dent on paying our new computer off!
The manager told Dan that it should be back later this week, and that he had called down to Texas and talked to the guy that was actually working on my computer so I guess we'll just have to wait and see when it comes back.
I told Dan to "give'm hell sweetie!" just before he went in the store and I was just thinking it would be nice to get a stack of rewritable CD's for free to make up for the inconvenience, I think my sweetie did A WHOLE LOT BETTER THEN THAT!!!!

Oh also today Gus got ahold of my cell phone and I can't find it, the phone only works intermittently here at the house so if I call my cell I get one very muffled ring and with 2 little ones in the house I can't hear where it's coming from before someone yells or starts fussing!
I guess when the battery runs low it will start doing those annoying chirps and hopefully I'll find it then.
So wish me good vibes on the computer and finding my cell phone! oh!

Has it already been a month?

My computer is still in the shop and I've called them at least 5 times I get someone different in their tech dept each time and they told me that there was a problem with the computers numbers and the ones the home office has on file for my extended warranty, I thought we got that taken care of about a week and a half into it being in the shop, then I called Monday and they said it was in FedEx's hands the guy on the phone didn't have many answers so

I decided to have my husband go in and talk to them in person, sadly at least around here if you have a man do the talking most of the time you get things done. Dan went in and talked to the guy at CompUSA yesterday (March 5th) and the guy pointed to my computer on the rack and said it hadn't ever left the building!!!!!!! They have had my computer and told me it was in Texas being repaired and it's never even left the building! Can you believe that S#IT????

I am at such a lost without my computer, we went and bought a new little laptop that's going to be mainly for Dan when I get mine back because it has all my programs and favorites on it and I'm just used to it. I had been thinking about getting another computer because I don't like to share mine (I know!)
I tried for a while to get along without a computer in the house by cleaning all the time but that only lasted for about 3 weeks. The house looked great but it's starting to look a little more like it's old self again. *grin*
I've been crafting a little but Gus is getting his bottom molars in and he's being VERY clingy, staying up till 11:30 at night but at least he's sleeping good once he finally goes to sleep and so it's a bit of a challenge to sew with a toddler on my lap, I can nurse at the keyboard but sewing is a whole nother matter.

I've also ran out of the washcloths that I use for my Binky Blankets so I have to sort of reinvent them, I'm leaning towards french terry but I have to just find the time to get a new batch made up so I can make new listing for my shop on Etsy.
Hopefully I can get some made up this week and listed, If anyone wants one before I get them listed on Etsy just drop me a note and I can get one made up for ya.
Oh also, I decided to make all my items in my shop F REE SHIPPING!!! cool huh? I thought so!
Take care and I'll write again soon. xoxox

I will be off line for a few days, I need to have my laptop serviced and I don't know when it will be back (hopefully quick!)
When I open it there are strange blue shadows and sometimes not screen at all and I just have to be a big girl and let it go to the doctor for a few days.
Say a prayer for my computer if you would! ;o) And I'll be back soon.
Take care everyone,
Julie

Teacup pot

Teacup pot
Originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

This is HUGE!
I found this cool giant tea cup flower pot at Wal-mart. sweet
:)
I have been meaning to replant the tall plant you see here for, ummm, about oh, 3 years (hows that for procrastinating?) and finally did it.
It was originally sitting on my window sill above my kitchen sink somehow surviving on the original little bit of potting soil it came with.
I'm a bad plant mama but it just kept living and growing new leaves!
I guess if this little baby is this strong she deserves a nice new pot and a little ivy roommate.
With this thing on my dining room table do you think I might maybe be able to keep my table clean? doubtful.

Oh, can you see Gus peeking from behind the cup?
If you didn't notice before, he was peeking through my Bernina in my post about my new sewing machine. what a ham.

Have you tried these?

I finally broke down and paid $9.99 for these little things that look like dog toys and you know what? THEY REALLY WORK!!!!
They have cut down the drying time of a load of jeans by at least 20 minutes and are really handy for drying my cloth diapers.
They basically work by making the clothes not just lay against the sides of the dryer which in turn allows more air to get in between the items and they dry quicker.
These little gems claim to reduce static , make your clothes fluffier and reduce drying time which saves on electricity and all in all I think it really stands up to it's claim.
There supposed to last approximately 3 months too.
Isn't it nice when something actually works? I believe so!
I'll give this item 5 stars. Now go out and get ya some! I found these on the laundry isle of Wal-mart.
(I am not affiliated with this company nor am I getting any kickbacks either. darn it! LOL!)

I got a new toy, it's a Bernina Aurora 430!

My Bernina
Originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

I have a new toy!
Now if I can just figure out how to use all it's bells and whistles. LOL!
I decided to take a little bit of my inheritance from my mom and go get something she would have definately approved of, this little beauty also has the embroidery attachment that I went ahead and got so I can personalize items that I sell.
I set up the embroidery part and sewed a couple things but with the kids not on the same nap schedule it's getting harder and harder to get to play with it so for now it's just for sewing.
I told DH that he could go get a small tractor if he wanted and he just opted for a new tattoo. (crazy, I know!)
I'll have to take a picture of it when he gets it done, he designed it himself with Cherokee symbols that say I love my family.
Ahhhh sweet.
I tried to convince him to get one that said "Property of Julie" but for some reason he decided that wasn't what he wanted. :'P
Actually I got a tattoo of a barbed wire heart just above my left breast one year for Valentines day and gave him a coupon for a barbed wire tattoo so he got one that went around his upper arm.
DH's wedding band is gold with barbed wire that he designed himself so the barbed wire design kindof means "I love Julie/Dan" to us. Corney but it works.
Have a great day!

Lip Gloss Sweater

Lip Gloss Sweater, originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

It's cold outside and we got about 7 inches of snow last weekend so I have been using the chapstick this winter.
I seen a crocheted one online somewhere and being that I really don't have the patients to crochet or knit I decided to just use a little piece of wool sweater that I had left over from making Gus some Butt Sweaters.
I love rick rack and yo-yo's so this is what I came up with.
I might start offering them in my shop, whatcha think?

Gifts for baby Mattie

Gifts for baby Mattie, originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

I have a friend that just had her 5th baby on the 12th of January and being she is a little girl I just couldn't resist making something girly.
I had thought about putting little ruffles on the bottom of the legs but little newborn babies don't really need that, these are the softest fuzziest flannel pants!
I took them over today which happened to be her mama's birthday too, but little Mattie was sleeping in the bedroom so I didn't get to see her. Oh well. Maybe next time.

This is what I gave...
Little flannel polka dot pants
Hand embroidered onesie
Reversible baby shoes
Big pink gingham seersucker baby blanket with fleece M

I forgot to take a picture of the back of the pants, I hand embroidered a piece of pink ribbon with her name "Mattie" and stitched it to the back waste band.
I also made a little size tag with NB and stitched it, like these aren't small enough to remember! :)

Busy busy

Things have been crazy around around here!
Gus turned 1 on December 29th and had lots of fun with his little smash cake, he really didn't make all that big of a mess until Daddy squished his hand in it. :)

Gus took his first real steps the day after his birthday but still likes to crawl and be carried around most of the time. :)
His top molars are almost completely in now and that makes for a very clingy baby in the evenings but a little baby Tylenol seems to help. He really enjoys scrubbing his toothbrush on them whenever he can. This makes 10 teeth already! We like to call him a little piranha (because he loooves to bite) and little monster (because he loooves to growl too).
Then I also gave him his first haircut, I still need to get a picture of that. I don't think I did that great a job because he just wouldn't sit still! Surprised? I'm not!
He also started saying a couple of different new things like UH-OH! , Yeah (while clapping) and he can now make the sign for milk so I know he wants to nurse. It's so cute to see him make the sign, it looks like he's
milking a cow. squirt squirt squirt
It's also getting harder to get much done on the computer because he wants to slap the keyboard and when I'm sewing he just will not stop unplugging my foot peddle. arg!
But I have been still able to get a few things done though...

I've been really busy making custom Binky Blankets for my Etsy shop and for wholesale orders too.
I have so many ideas swirling around in my head that it's hard to decide where to start! So make sure you check my shop for all the new items I plan to be adding in the coming weeks.
I recently added patches to the shop so if you have something personal you'd like to have one of my designs on, you can get a patch and add it yourself!
Here's a pic of one of the custom orders I did recently that included a couple of patches.--->

I was also having a little problem with depression, I didn't want to admit it but I was in such a funk and my house work was suffering and that makes me all that more depressed so I went to my doc and asked for something to help make me feel better. This was quite a step for me because I just didn't think it was that bad but now that I've been on my new medicine (Zoloft) I have just been so much happier and less easily angered.
At first it made me very sleepy and that lasted for about 2 weeks then things leveled out and now I don't really feel any side effects except for being consistantly happy!
And ya gotta love that!!!
I wanted to share this with everyone because I want you all to know that there isn't any shame in getting medicine that can make your quality of life better. I've looked back and can see so many times in my life that if I had been taking something like this I would have been so much happier.
Sometimes I just have to take a step back and say "I need to take care of myself!" for a change so I can take better care of my family.
Being care giver for my family can sometimes be a little overwelming, but wonderfully now it's just not that overwelming after all!
I hope to start blogging more, it's a bit of a challenge with Gus on the move but I'm going to give it extra effort.
Take care everyone!

Me and the boys Christmas 2006

Me and the boys Christmas 2006, originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I thought it would be fun to set the timer on the camera and take a picture of me and my guys I'm kind of surprised it turned out OK, now I should have dressed us up in cute clothes :)

Gnome hand embroidered t-shirt

Gnome hand embroidered t-shirt, originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

Here's a little gnome I stitched a few months ago because I just love gnomes!
I took 2 pictures I found on the net and put them together, drew them on the shirt and stitched it on.
I think I could have done a much better job on the hat and maybe filled in the red on the mushrooms but after doing such a sucky job on the gnomes hat, I decided to just leave the shrooms outlined.
And the shirt is really white, I guess that's what you get when you're too lazy to set up a table top light box for photographing items when the suns down. :)

Happy 70th birthday Mom

My Moms Christmas drawing, originally uploaded by mama_blueberry.

Today would have been Moms 70th birthday, she was only 2 months away.
While my sisters and I went through her fabric stash I came across some of these Christmas drawings that she had done from a pattern, what's so funny was that it was intended to look like a little kid had drawn the pictures but with the way Mom wrote she was able to pull it off.
I think she did this at a time when she was wanting to craft and we were all too busy to want to do any crafting with her and so she did these.
Drawn on muslin (the correct color is in the bottom picture) with permanent fabric markers and colored with crayons.
I think these are just adorable. I'm going to add some Christmas fabric around the edges and make it into a pillow.
I think the pattern was something like Brown Paper Bag or something like that, I searched and couldn't find them any more.
Here's a close up of the Santa. :)

It's all about the legs

Baby legs are the current rage so I thought I would try my hand at making a pair for Gus, come to find out, Jaden really likes them too! These started out being a pair of toe socks I picked up at Target then I cut some knit from an old t-shirt and made a cuff and sewed it on the end!

All together it took about 5 minutes! The reindeer are grippy so they are great for traction.

here's Gus sitting in front of the Christmas tree modeling his new leggings!

Now here's a pic of Jaden, I had to find something else to put on him because he wanted to wear the leggings because Gus was wearing them.

These are tattoo sleeves that I got for my hubby for Halloween. Aren't these funny?
Jaden thinks he's cool beans!

Do you ever do stupid stuff?

OK, so I buy a package of Andes mints mini chips for making cookies or whatever with, with the full intentions of just nibbling here and there on them. :oD And I put them in the freezer in a zippy bag along with a metal spoon and not thinking much about nuthin' I go into the kitchen and pull my little "treat bag" out, scoop up some bits and put the spoon in my mouth and WHAM! the stupid thing sticks to my lips and tongue! stupid stupid stupid (note to self: use plastic spoon next time) Just add this to my latest stupid stuff I've done list.

On to something that isn't stupid....

Here's cute site that I ran accross www.Jelene.com she makes the cutest pictures I especially love the dog in a banana car!

Have a great week everyone. xoxox Julie