Round 2...

K, so Raymond just lost Benjamin (his favorite bunny).  Fire out.  Here are 2 of the blankets I finished.

Kawika

...the back is a minky fabric

And here is the other one:

Tinsley

    

...so 'Tinsley' has a minky back with fluffy edge

I'll post pics of the other blanket soon.  I'm making one of my preggy sister's here baby bedding set.  So when it's all complete, I'll show you. Although I have pictures of the other b-day party we went to, I'm kinda partied out.  So the last pictures I want to show you are of course of the babies and our trip to Target.  Now I know, Target does not seem picture worthy, but to me its hilarious.  

                                        

So at Target they have these massive carts and we never get to use one.  So Friday was our lucky day.  And the kids loved it.  It looks like they're on a roller coaster.  Ahhh,the joys of the simple things in life.  

I'm still here....

The Party Room...

The gift bags Raymond painted...

I don't do weird mustaches...

Singing Happy Birthday...

Blowing out the candles...

Us....

All of us...

Raymond chowing down on some B-day cake...

The after math...

Omigod!!!! I've been crazy busy.  So the last time I left you was before Raymond's 2 year old birthday party (which came out fantastic).  And within that time frame there was the planning for the party, the party, my first avon order (by the way I'm an avon girl), the delivery of avon, the completion of 3 blankets, the selling of one blanket and the attending of Raymond's cousin's birthday party. And in between all the that, regular life.  Phew!!! I'm exhausted just typing up that.  So I know it would seem like I have all the time in the world to do that, being a stay at home mommy, but I don't.  Anyhoo, today is another day.  So today is going to be more or less of a photo album from where I left off and where I am today.  Warning:  There is a lot of pictures.

Raymond in his Muno shirt

So one of my kids is crying for me, so I'll post the pics of the blankets later this evening.  But just know, I'm baaaaaccccckkkkk........

p.s. Sorry the pictures are kinda out of order

Yo Gabba Gabba.....

So my son is, stop in his tracks obsessed and in love with the show 'Yo Gabba Gabba'.  And as crazy as this show first looks, let me tell you, this is my sanity.  When it is one of those days and I feel like my patience is gone and I think, "Omigod!  Just breathe."  I turn on 'Yo Gabba Gabba', and its like 'Awwwww (angels singing with harps kind of awwww)'.

Now if you haven't watched 'Yo Gabba Gabba' you really must.  First of all its very bright.  There's six main characters.  One is human named DJ Lance Rock.  And the other 5 are life sized puppets.  Plex is a robot, and Toudee I think is a cat.  I can't really tell.  Foofa is a pink creature.  Brobee is green and has a unibrow.  And Muno, Raymond's favorite, is, I think, a monster.  Its so bizarre, but at the same time really funky cute.

Anyhow, Raymond loves this show.  He is literally star struck when these characters come on screen.  He stops whatever he's doing, stares as if he hasn't seen it before (mind you all the episodes are repeats).  Slowly a smirk comes upon his face and he begins to dance and sing.  I love watching him watch this show.  I'll have to video it and upload it sometime.

 Anyway, Raymond is turning 2 in a few weeks (sniff, sniff) and his birthday party is a 'Yo Gabba Gabba' pizza birthday party.  Oh I forgot to mention, 'Yo Gabba Gabba' is like an indy version of  a kids show.  So even though you ask any toddler about yo gabba gabba and they go wild for it, you can't really get any merchandise.  So when I was started planning his birthday party, I was kind of racking my brain trying to figure out how to get Raymond a Yo Gabba Gabba tshirt from the show.  I figured I'd make Raymond a Muno shirt for his birthday.  Here it is ----------------------------------------------->>

Of course I'll show updated pics of him actually in it.  I showed it to him for the first time yesterday.  And immediately he says, "Yooooooo Gabba Gabba".  Right now I'm still the cool mom in his eyes.

Aren't they beautiful????

So I've been racking my brain as towards what creative thing to blog about next.  And I have a few ideas floating around in my head, that haven't quite made it to drawing board quite yet.  But I promise, the next blog entry, will have it.  Right now though, I am once again in awe over my "monkeys".  (I call them this cause this morning I walked into their room, and they were facing each other in their cribs.  Jumping, bouncing, moving, whatever you wanna call it, as fast as they both could.  Completely excited to see each other.)  Ladies (and gentlemen), drum roll please..........

Rylie Rae Lester

Raymond Douglas Lester

Proof in the pudding...

So I realized after explaining why this is my creative journal, I didn't show you any proof.  I guess I should explain something first.  I heart arts and crafts.  I mean, I heart it soooo much its kinda sick.  And I've always loved arts and crafts.   I was that kid that when we went to the toy store, I would stand in the "creativity" aisle and be completely overwhelmed with excitement.  I, mean, even now I go into JoAnn's fabrics and crafts and literally feel like the mothership is calling me home.  Anyway, my latest obsession is quilts.
And not your grandma's quilt (sorry grandmas of the world).  But brighter, more unique, hip, statement pieces for the not so traditional person who would need a baby blanket.  Here's some of my latest projects:

Fruit Punch

Rocker Girl

So as you can see.  They're really vibrant and at the same time have a simplicity about them.  And the some of my favorite parts of them are the edges and backs.  They are soooooo soft and cozy.  See what I mean:

                                                            

The second reason...

So I really only gave you guys one reason for me starting to blog.  There are 2.  The second requires a little bit of background.

So about 3 years ago, on my christmas list I asked for a sewing machine from my boyfriend/father of my children.  At this point he thinks this request is crazy, because he had know idea how crafty I was.  And lets on like this is not the gift I'm going to get.  But unbeknowst to me, he calls my sister for moral support while he is shopping for my sewing machine, and gets me the top of the line machine.  So christmas rolls around, he acts like "Santa" knocked on our, then, apartment door, and left me a large box.  I open it, and voila, my lovely sewing machine.  A whole year comes and goes and I ended up only using it once.

Then I find out I'm prego with my oldest, and in true nesting form, I sew everything.  The  custom bedset, curtains, pillows, hats, and the list goes on.  Well not even a year later, I find out I'm prego with the second.  And I just had to sew everything all over again.  But this time I make a custom quilt.  My friend who was prego at the same time, just loves my daughter's quilt, so I make her daughter one.  And then another friend sees my quilts and just falls in love them.  So now I'm just sewing quilts.  Well not just quilts.  Custom Baby Bedsets and carseat covers too.  But you get the idea.

So long story short, I want to use this blog as kind of my creative journal for my projects.  (Okay, so as I just typed the last sentence, I realized...... Maybe all the dramatics of my second reason needing a backup story, was not so needed.  Oh well.)

So second reason is dedicated to Travis.  Awwww........

Here we go......

So I have to completely admit that I have been entirely chicken about blogging.  You know, all the typical 'what if' questions popped up....what if I sound boring?  what if I have nothing to blog about?  what if know one relates to me? what if someone thinks what I have to say is stupid? what if.....what if....what if?  And the answer ladies (and gentlemen) is, YES to all of the above.   Cause the reality of it all is, there will be someone out there that will answer YES to one of those questions if not all.  BUT....there may be a few out there that answer NO.  And to those I say "Thank you"  and "Welcome".  


Anyhoo, a little about myself and why I decided to blog in the first place.  I'm a mom of 2 wonderful, adorable and very young kids.  My oldest is 21 months.  And my youngest is 7 months.  Thats right folks, your arithmetic serves you right, thats 14 months apart.  Now I know that I'm not the only one out there who has kids close in age.  And I also know that there are folks out there that your kids are even closer than mine.  So I figured, on those days when I feel like I'm the only one pulling out my hair.  I'll blog and keep some of that hair.  


Another reason why I wanted to start blogging, is because I have become a blog, for the lack of a better word, stalker.  Yes, I love to follow all of you stay at home moms out there who are creative, artsy fartsy, crafty, and extremely talented.  (And one working mom who is extremely talented in her own right (TAS)  So in a way this is homage to you all.


Well, I've finally jumped off the 'what if' cliff and into the blogging sea.  I still have the butterflies in my tummy, but here we go.......