Back to Crafting, Sewing, Quilting, and Blogging... I hope!

It's hard to believe that it has been a little over a year since our "surprise" baby boy was born. What a year it has been. So many blessings to be thankful for, but quilting, sewing, and most crafting has been very sporadic, and blogging about anything I did do just didn't happen. He keeps me busy, as do his brothers. He is so adorable and charms everyone he meets, pics included so you can see what I am talking about!

In September school started and my middle son began Kindergarten. It is my first time home schooling Kindergarten, as my older son didn't begin home schooling until First grade. Any "free time" I had was put into researching and executing fun learning activities, and LOTS of laminating and cutting! I have completely fallen in loved my laminator!

In October I helped with our church's Harvest Fest. As usual it was a lot of fun, but many late nights spent at the church as a family. All 3 boys were troopers! I wanted an inexpensive way to bring "Fall" into our church so I learned how to make Tissue Paper Pom Poms... I think everyone thought I was nuts when I kept saying, "no we need more!" BUT I think they turned out so beautiful. My husband and I spent 2 weeks making these trees out of a paper mache type clay.

I chose a theme for Baby Boy's first birthday in October and whenever I could steal a minute on Pinterest I was pinning away! I was so excited about doing a Dr Suess party. Unfortunately I really couldn't start executing any of the ideas until after Christmas.

I agreed to teach a women's Bible Study at our church in November and December, and I had the idea to do a study through the Jesse Tree and by the end of the study each woman would have her on set of 24 felt ornaments. Much of November and part of December was spent cutting out felt pieces for the ornament kits. I must admit that was quite an undertaking while working my accounting job, homeschooling, keeping a home, and taking care of a baby who still nurses every couple of hours. The ornaments were very simple, but since I had to cut 480 felt circles, and all of the pieces for 240 ornaments, they had to be fairly simple! I am so happy I did it and I really think the ladies in the study enjoyed it.

6 of the 24 ornaments

My Jesse Tree

I had plans for several Christmas presents that would involve sewing and some other crafting aspects... But my husband had an ATV accident the day after Thanksgiving and I had to make some hard cuts on the homemade Christmas gifts! He injured his wrist and was unable to move it, so he couldn't help with the baby and he couldn't cut some of the wooden pieces I needed for a couple projects. The only handmade gift I finished was for my In-Laws. I made a Family Celebrations board for them. There are a lot of us, with 7 kids, spouses, grandkids, and one great grandbaby. I really wanted them to have this wall hanging for their home.

Christmas was lovely, we spent it in Minnesota and Wisconsin with Family and Friends. The day after we arrived home I went into full-on PARTY PLANNING MODE! The party was scheduled for January 25th and I had 24 days to execute all of my ideas!

My next blog post will be all about the party, the pic below is just to show off the Star of the Show!

With a Bushel and Peck of Love,

Jessica