An Awesome Giveaway I HAD to share!

I wanted to mention an AWESOME giveaway I came across.  It's for a new Web Show for all sort of fabulous crafting things!  They're giving away two fabulous crafting machines:  A Janome Embroidery machine and a Janome Sewing Machine!  I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win one of these machines.  Secretly I would love to have a new sewing machine with more fun functions than my learner machine I have now.

Anywho, check it out!

In Disguise--Slipcovers

There are many wonderful home renov/updates taking place in the Rogers household. First, we sold Gabby The Galant this past Saturday. She sold after only being listed two days! YAY! We're using the money made from Gabby's sale to put back into the house. Those pictures of those changes will come later.

I'm currently fighting the good battle of sewing slipcovers for our couch and oversized chair. I'm quite excited about this project. Not only will it polish off our worn (but still shape sturdy furniture), but I'm able to do it for a decent price. Prefabricated slip covers aren't cheap and they wouldn't look so great on our giant couch and chair. Plus, we're wanting to polish up our bright colors.

I found a rust colored fabric at Hobby Lobby. Still in the red family, just a tiny bit more subdued. I wanted a print or pattern, but a very muted one that would work well with other prints and patterns. I lucked up with my chosen fabric--I love the faint small diamond pattern mixed with the green and maroon itty-bitty dots. PERFECT for what we already have--tons of green accents throughout the downstairs. On top of that the upholstery fabric was only $10 per yard, quite cheap for such a heavy fabric. AND on top of that, it was 30% OFF! I had to order an entire bolt of fabric for the couch, but was able to bring some fabric home to start working on the chair. I'm quite excited that I spend only $170 to recover two large pieces of furniture--way better than buying new furniture, especially when ours is only 5 years old. The dogs have just reeked havoc on the cushions. I will have to spend a little bit more because I'm creating completely new back cushions due to the smushed and gnawed cushion corners.

I'm sewing these slipcovers as pieces, so that the finished look won't be so slouchy like many slipcovers can be. The first piece I've worked on is the base, with the seat and back cushions to follow. I wanted the hardest part done first! I'm quite surprised with how well it turned out. I just pinned the bottom hem and only have one mishap to fix. It's already passed the daddy-seal-of-approval! :) I can't wait to get this chair completely finished, but looks like it won't be until next week--Knox and I are headed back to AL/TN for the next few days, leaving Daddy to fend for himself for a bit. Don't worry, he'll be busy with those other home renovs I mentioned earlier! YAY!

This is the best color pic of the fabric--isn't it fabulous???

You can tell that I haven't hemmed it yet--the front will hang more flush once it is hemmed. Can you see the boo-boo?

I'm thrilled with how the arms turned out!

This is the boo-boo. I'm completely happy with only one mistake and should be fairly easy to fix. Besides, once the cushions are in place it won't be noticeable anyway! ;)

Great Day Graphics Etsy Launch Date

If you haven't had the chance to check out my creative blog, do so now! Have fun looking at all the fabulous, creative things I can make and personalize for you!

I am currently in the progress of setting up an Etsy storefront, for a hopefully easier option of ordering your customized items. I have established Tuesday, July 7th as my "launch" day, so be on the lookout for the storefront web address!

UPDATE: Etsy Storefront has been launched! Check it out here!

More sickness and a few randoms

Well, Knox is sick--yet again. Not sure if it's the croup coming back to haunt us, like his NP said it might, but he's running a fever of 100-102 degrees the past day. He even got sick on our bed this afternoon, so that may be a sign that it's something completely different. Yay. I'll be making a call first thing tomorrow AM if the fever hasn't subsided overnight.

In the meantime, I'm catching up on a few projects that I hadn't had a chance to get to like, FINALLY monogramming my BFFs aprons that I made them for CHRISTMAS (yeah, I know, I'm a bit late...), monogramming bags for Jayma (yes, I'm finally getting to those too!) and hemming curtains for my parents (I am HORRID at hemming! Can't EVER get the same measurement twice! URRGGHH!) I'm also working on a few new creative projects--a few to sell through my business for my "sistas" including two items for which I made my own font! FUN!!!

I have definitely come to the realization that I do, in fact, have creative ADD due to the fact I am always trying to create something new (to me) and different. My current obsession is my digital cutter, and I'm so antsy right now because I'm having issues with my newest blade that cuts chipboard & balsa wood--the heavy duty stuff. I have actually already used it for a paying job for wedding hang tags, and for my own personal use of business card tags. Check them out! I have also added prices for some things over there, and will be getting to adding prices on things posted previously. In addition, I've added the ease of a PayPal payment button. You just click, insert a short description (similar to what you email me), insert the payment amount (along with debit/credit card/PayPal account info) and TA-DA! You've just purchased your unique, personalized, and OH-SO-very cute item! :) (Checks are still welcome, too!)

Now that I've shamelessly promoted my own business, I'll leave you in saying to check out the Great Day Graphics blog in a few days to see pics of some of the gifts I mentioned earlier in this post!

Have a great week, y'all!

First Day of "School"

So today is Knox's first day of daycare/school.  He's only going four half days each week, but we think that is plenty of time for him to be socialized.  It's also plenty of time for me to get work competed each day--well for the most part and not including my current favorite hobby that is thankfully turning into a small source of extra income.  Anyway, this hobby definitely bleeds into our everyday life so I had to post pictures of all the goodies I made for Knox on his first day of school.  You can also see that the day didn't start off all that stellar.  Ha!  Poor baby knew we were going to drop him off somewhere strange.

NEW "CREATIVE" BLOG!

I have decided it was time for a blog solely dedicated to the creative side of my life.  The blogs are categorized for the easiest sorting and viewing--from invites to embroidery and everything in between.  I have many samples that I want to share, and since I've recently started the blog, it will take some time to catch up so check back often!

www.greatdaygraphics.blogspot.com

Check it out and leave some love!  :)

Too late for this chicky

It is WAY past my bedtime, but I'm up making the cutest burp cloths for my sweet friend Sherry.  I'll have to take pictures tomorrow AM to post.  I know I wouldn't be able to sleep if I waited to do them tomorrow, so I'm biding my time doing a quick little post while my machine works away.

Speaking of embroidery machine, I'm getting several orders for burp cloths, bibs, onesies, etc. so I'm quite pumped about this new venture!  Plus I now think I'm addicted to it--especially appliqué which I just learned to do two days ago.  I'm going to have to invest in a few 18 month onesies so Knox can be a part of the action.  I'm also going to work on some designs geared toward the school down the road and let the neighbors kids be my billboards.  If anyone reading wants me to do any school related designs, or anything else for that matter, leave me a comment, give me a shout, however you can get in touch with me! ;)  I just turned the hand appliqué of the cupcake that I made for Kaylie, into a machine appliqué, for cutie Ben Smith.  His birthday isn't until May, but I am so thankful his momma, Amanda is on top of the ball, and gave me plenty of wiggle room with getting it completed--but I think I'll probably have it done by next week.  :)

Other than that, Knox has been entertaining us with claps when we request Pat-A-Cake.  He has also startedfoot stomps in excitement, accompanied with a large grin.  This and finger pointing have both started recently, and funny enough, the first finger pointing and foot stomping episode was for a bite of chocolate cake.  He is my child.  :)  No big plans for Valentines Day, possibly some landscaping work, and some home-grilled steaks.  Just some quality time with my men, and looking forward to Grammy & Grandaddy's visit next weekend.

I can hardly believe we're almost halfway through February--but I'm glad spring is almost here!  I'll have to post pics of my no-fail winter blues pick-me-up--my seedlings!  For the past few years I've started herbs and tomatoes from seed.  It's actually quite exciting to me to plant the seeds and watch them grow.  I run downstairs each day to see how much they grew over night.  This year I got this cute little greenhouse thing, actually it's a giant plastic box for about $7, and several packets of seeds for about $1 a pack.  I should have some parsley, cilantro, chives, mint, tomatoes, bell peppers, and rosemary this spring and summer.  In addition to beating the winter blahs, I'll have some home-grown groceries to help cut the grocery bill.  I plan on planting bean, squash/zucchini, and cucumber seeds to add to the bounty.  I'll have to keep you posted on how those go.

Weekend Recap

Thought I should fill you in on a few good things that happened over the weekend.

First and foremost, Knox is walking multiple steps at a time.  Not just two and three steps, but six to eight steps.  And he is so cute doing so!  The first time Keith and I noticed, Knox was only in his diaper and had his little hands raised up by his ears, toddling from the ottoman to his toy box.  Oh and how he has started loving his toy box and pulling things out of it (and the diaper box).  He has started doing some of the mama, dada, and baba sounds.

  

I was really worried about this one, especially when his pediatrician said she would be worried if he wasn't saying two to three words in the next three months.  Now that I have talked to my mom and other newer moms, I'm a little more at ease that he's not babbling my ear off just yet.  She did say that I can let him watch more Baby Einstein (I was only letting him watch about an hour total per day since I read too much TV can delay speech development--so much for that theory).  This means I can get more work done because every time one starts up, he's instantly in trance.

Other pediatrician stats for Knox:  height 56%, weight 79% and noggin 94% (that is to account for all that genius brain activity going on up there!)  She said that he is way above normal as 

far as the walking goes, but wants us to work with him on clapping--more pat-a-cake for us.  I don't think he understands the concept of clapping his own hands together because when we play I clap his hands together for him.  Last week, he started putting his hands on my wrists making me clap as soon as we finish with him.  TOO CUTE!

My couponing/sale shopping went extremely well this weekend.  I didn't get my newspapers until Sunday AM, but I found that if I go to Food Depot they have two Sunday papers bound together for only $2.50 (regular Sunday paper is $2!) and I get like an 8¢ discount because Food Depot is a "discount" grocery store.  This weekend's paper was JAM PACKED with GREAT coupons.  So I got all my sale papers out, new coupons torn out and spread sheet out, I scanned over everything and got my list ready for my stores.  I hit CVS first and managed to save $41 and only paid $31!!!  I had a personal coupon from when you scan your card in the store for $4 off a $20 purchase.  On top of all that I made $5 in CVS bucks to add to the $3 I forgot to use!  In Kroger I only spent about $20, and in Aldi I only spent $15!!!  I went to the Aldi here in Stockbridge and it's just as "nice" as the one in Conyers, so I may save a bit of gas and start going there.

Over the weekend I was also able to finish some craft projects.  One I can't mention since it's a surprise for someone, and the other is too but I don't think she'll check this blog so I'll spill the beans.  And Anna, if you happen to find this, SURPRISE!  You'll get these in a few days!  As you read previously, Anna is my BFF Jayma's little sister who just pledged AOPi at Birmingham Southern.  It's a big deal in the sorority world to get fun and fabulous gifts as a new member.  Normally these gifts can chalk up a pretty price tag, but I did inventory of things I already had, and made Anna a few gifts to welcome her to the sisterhood (I have a bad habit of buying craft things just because they are on sale, which we are remedy-ing!)  Here's pictures of what I made her!

Thought I was clever with the saying on the cup

A shirt I appliqued

A bag that's appliqued

A door/wall hanger with fun wire & bead hanger--see, it says AOII down the side?!

Weekend Happenings

This has been a great, and busy, weekend in the Rogers household.  Saturday was they day we've been waiting for--the first weekend of college football.  I wasn't able to catch many games on the tube since I was running around getting beautified, but it's just knowing the season started is fabulous.  It was even more fabulous knowing that Keith would be home one extra day for Labor Day.

We didn't have any big game plans for the Bama game Saturday night, but Jeff came over which is actually nothing new.  Before he and Bridgette were married, he was our adopted kid.  I grilled burgers and we all had a few beers to savor the kick off of the 2008 college football season.  You'll see a picture of Knox and Jeff--I just had to get one since they were both wearing their prospective teams' jerseys.  Knox is wearing the jersey of SEC's dominating team, given to him by his Uncle Tutu.  Jeff just wears Michigan State's jersey because he went there, not because he thinks they are any good.  Haha!

One of Knox's newest funny moments, which happened on Saturday, was learning to "drink" out of an big boy cup.  He is fascinated with the giant plastic orange cups that we use most.

 Mine is almost always filled with water, so I have occasionally let him attempt to drink out of it.  Well now he thinks that's his cup.  Keith finished drinking his water and let Knox play with it.  The grabs ahold of it and tilts it up like he knows what he's doing!  Next thing we see him do is stick his tongue in and around the edge while jibbering (yelling) into it so he can hear him self echo.  It is so funny.  We have video of it, which I'll post if I can figure it out.  In the meantime, you'll have to just enjoy the pictures.

Saturday was also filled with some learning.  Keith and I have ordered Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace books and DVDs. Keith has surprised me by reading constantly.  I've never witnessed this much reading from him, ever.  We watched the the DVDs, which are actually quite good.  Dave is a funny guy and his principles just make plain sense.  So we are starting a budget, complete with the envelope system, this coming Friday.  At first I wasn't as enthusiastic as Keith, but I've been researching shopping sales and using coupons, so now I'm ready to play the game!  

I also discovered Aldi, a low cost grocery store, which I found was surprisingly fab for certain things.  Shopping drug stores' sale papers and using coupons was so much fun.  I only bought things that were one sale and that I had a coupon for, saving almost $20 at EACH of the THREE drug stores AND two grocery stores I went to on Sunday.  All five stores are in a mile or two, so the cost of gas is not a factor in my craziness.  I'm really excited to see what I can come up with since our freezer is already full of Rogers Family beef, wild pheasant, wild quail and fish caught by Keith!

So my sale shopping took up most of Sunday, but still had to come home and knock out a few ads.  Today was no exception to the craziness, but I feel like I've made progress in all that I have to do ESPECIALLY with the help of Keith.  Keith basically cleaned the whole house while I finished ads, folded clothes, putting up clothes and finally finishing gifts for Norah (soon-to-be daughter of Tiffany) since her shower is Saturday.  I also managed to whip up a little something for Knox to wear this Friday at the Florence Falcons football game.  I know it's not Falcons garb, but it's still appropriate.  Pictures of his onesie are a little further down.  I was really excited with how it turned out.  I'm dying to post the pics of the cute little girl things I made for Norah, but Tiff won't be getting them until Saturday and I don't want to ruin the surprise, so I'll have to post them next weekend.

Daddy took this pic and the one below--SO GOOD!

Bulldog cheeks