Bullying

School is in plain sight and with everyone getting things ready, new clothes being bought (or in my case made). Choosing out backpacks and pencil cases, I would like to take a minute and discuss something that has been getting a lot of highlights but still not discussed enough. 

Bullying. 

When you think of bullying, you usually think of a giant kid stuffing a much smaller and nerdy kids head into a toilet. Sad to say that my son has had this happen to him. I can also go into personal experience and recite girls throwing rocks at me, kids calling me names, girls undoing my bra in the hallways at school....some people have it worse then others, but we ALL sadly, deal with bullying at many points in our lives. 

We've become aware of it. There's been discussions. But something happened today that made me really wonder if the message has gotten through to US? 

When I first joined the "Blogger world" I was amazed. These women are amazing. Sharing their experiences and crafty knowledge eagerly to anyone and everyone. Bringing each other up and helping.

Then the more I've gotten into it, I've started to see politics. There's a circle, clique, sewing country club, if you will, to it.

Then today I saw it. Bullying. 

I'm going to admit. I am still pretty outraged about it. It was uncalled for and childish. We are supposed to be here pulling each other up. Not tearing each other down. 

That also made me wonder. How do we expect our children to not bully others or to handle bullying, when we ourselves do it? Have we forgotten the old motto, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Do I need to bring out the Bambi?

I'm not making this post to call out or chastise. More to enlighten or hopefully make people more aware that we are all human. We have amazing talents and I know we all want to share our talents. We have no need to tear each other down. 

Too, good luck for school! I just found out that my 1st grader is going to probably be getting more homework then my 5th grader. Not going to lie.....I'm petrified! 

Happy School Days people!!

Project Run and Play Try Out

It's that time again with Project Run & Play starting a new season! This was the very reason I actually started writing a blog. The biggest problem I keep coming up with is what project do I submit?? If you read my last post, you would see I have no shortage of items to choose from. But, I wanted it to be different. Showing off a bit more of my talent.

Then it hit me. For the last few months I have been drafting my own pattern. Slacking at times and needing my awesome sewing posse to kick my butt into gear, and it is nearly completed. I hope....

So, without further ado, I introduce to you:

The Saffron Twirl Dress.

Why did I name it Saffron? Well, Saffron is my little sisters name, who just so happens to share a birthday with me. And no, we are no where close to being twins! It is also what my blog name means in Swahili. Yeah, you better believe I just googled that to make sure!

Here's a whole bunch more pics to show off this dress.

Zoe LOVED twirling in it!

Both my girls were fighting over it today, so we got pics of both wearing it. I think that's the sign that I need to make another....

Here's to hoping I make the contest this season! :D

Summer

 I can't believe how quickly this summer went by. It's been a really weird summer. The weather has been weird. Life has been weird. It's just been a very different summer. Granted, we still have 18 days before school starts and summer officially ends for us. I was going back through all the pictures of our summer and cannot believe how much sewing I have accomplished! This is the majority of my summer projects. And, like I said, I still have 18 days left. Who knows what else I can accomplish in that time.

But, just so you guys know, I've not been idle this summer. My blog has been suffering, but I have been a busy busy bee!

Happy August everyone!!!

Pattern Anthology Alphabet Collection

Quite a while ago I got chosen to pattern test for Melly over at Melly Sews. Do you know how hard it is to keep your lips sealed when you have a super cute adorable pattern all finished?? It is torture my friends! 

The pattern is the W pants for Pattern Anthology. I was chosen to test the short version in Jude's size.

I messed up when placing the zipper on these ones, but hey, I still think they turned out adorable. And in case you were curious, it says, "Don't bug me" around the bugs. 

Then, a little while later I got chosen to pattern test the Study Hall Jacket from Go To Patterns.

I LOVE this jacket! Aevarie and Jude are for sure getting ones made. I may just make the other 2 kids one as well, it's so cute! So what if they have a billion clothes already! 

And well, Zoe needed a pair of W pants to go with her stellar jacket, so we went to work on those!

Notice how they are shorts and not pants?? I didn't have enough fabric for the pants. :( 

They still make some adorable shorts though! 

I STILL messed up on the zipper and put it in upside down. lol But seriously, look at how cute they turned out!

I love that the jacket is reversible too! 

And these are just perfect to read books in!

Or state when you are finished with a photo shoot! 

You can grab your copy of all 4 patterns marked down 40% until August 12th at Pattern Anthology! After the 12th, they go on individual sale. 

Or if you want to test your luck, enter to win the collection here. That ends tonight though, so hurry!  

Time

I can't believe it's almost been a week since my birthday. Where has the time been going?? I've still been doing pattern tests, but we also picked up work on our basement. Electrician has been in and I am stoked! 

Here's some sneak peeks. 

I'll have my own sewing room, the kids will get a play room, plus 2 bedrooms, a family room, study, a question room and the cold storage. I really can't wait for it to be all finished! 

I'll be putting posts up of all my pattern testing soon too! 

Turning 30

So, it's my birthday. The big 3-0. I really can't complain, cause the majority of the kids I grew up with, as well as most of my friends are already 30. I've been pondering how I would feel. Does it feel different? Do you suddenly get an overwhelming urge to stop all idiocy and be a decent adult when that clock strikes 12am? I'm going with, nope. I still feel stupid and silly, and not 30. Although, with 5 kids I've been feeling it for the last few years. Probably have looked it too. lol

I also have to give a shout out to my baby sister who turns 18 today. Yep. we are cool and awesome and were born 12 years apart. So we are both Cancers and both Boars. Oink. Or Snort? I guess, I have graduated to the "snort". 

I'll post pics later of our birthday bash, but Happy birthday to me and my sis!

I Am SOOOOO LUCKY!

I don't know what it is I have done, but Karma is being lovely to me! Sure, we've had our downs this summer (one of those downs being our 4 year old going missing for 2 hours only to be found fast asleep in the undercarriage of our double stroller), but man. This summer has been SOOO good to us! 

My latest blessing being that I was able to snag a ticket to the Sewing Summit. Yeah. I'm doing a little happy dance over here. I am really sad that I wont get to meet the person behind my stroke of good luck, but I am so stoked to get to go! 

Our basement is also in the works to getting finished. Electrician is scheduled for next Thursday, and after that we have the inspection scheduled and then insulation and sheetrock going up. Eek! I keep thinking of my lovely sewing space, the playhouse for the kids, the older kids moving down there giving us a free bedroom up here to move Jude into. And the family room! I am just dying to get everything out of our "living room" upstairs and turn that into a sitting room. I'm on pins and needles for it to be finished!

I am also THIS close to being able to send my pattern out to testers. THIS close! Are you picturing my fingers basically touching?? Cause yeah, it's happening. I have my amazing sewing group to thank for pushing me to get it done. You guys are incredible! 

And oh the stuff we have planned! Things are in the works and I swear, PINKY swear, that once school starts I will have more time to be writing posts and filling you all in. But, since I can't leave a post pictureless, here is our unintentional pumpkin garden. Gavin is going to be so excited to see them when he gets home!