what other things do I do for fun?

{warning: lengthy post, heavy laden with pics}

Fabulous Kim asked me this question and I've been thinking about it for a couple of weeks... and with the fiasco of last week, I came to realize that I do a lot for fun! It's how I stay alive really! You see, this past week Brad had about the hugest paper of his entire Law-school career. Did I forget to mention that it was his Spring Break?! That's right, they assigned it right before and had it due right after. So his break was shot, along with our time together. BUT my family came and visited for a few days during my bro's break, and that was super nice. Pics from our Disney trip to come later! So, as I was saying, the rest of the week I pretty much just crafted, to keep my mind and body busy so I couldn't feel sorry for myself. Oh, and did I forget to mention that I have a son?! Although, I think I crafted more than I did home-make this week. So, all in all, I've been thinking about what I do for fun, and I decided that I would share what I have been doing this past week and what I have done in the past. And I'll also be sharing what I have planned for the near future. So, here goes; I've broken it up into 6 different categories {click on images}:

1. sewing: probably one of the first hobbies of mine in the realm of crafting. I'm real good at sewing straight lines. I love piecing quilts, but I'm afraid I don't have the prowess (as of yet ;) to actually quilt my quilts. I leave that up to the professionals like Maureen or Maurae in Mesa. So I have TONS of quilt tops that are begging to be battered (not a word) and bound. I also have made tons of pillows, a bedskirt, duvet covers, and a few curtains, as far as straight-lined sewing is concerned. However, I have made one or two skirts back in the days, and this past week my mother helped me make an apron (pattern from Aunt K)! Thanks mom!

2. stitching: also back in the day, I roughly learned how to crochet and knit, just by the basics. I've revived that desire after purchasing such lovely Anthropologie headbands (my pride and joy, uh, next to my baby, of course!) and being inspired by such lovelies as Heather, Danie, Aunt K and Mrs. Bailey. So I've been working on developing that skill this week too. I also got pretty good at cross-stitching, which is one of my all time fave things to do. I like to do free-hand stitching, especially any kind of lettering (so the pic below is a closeup of my quilt from above, of just the stitching. I always liked to make my tags on my quilts really big with stitching).

3. scrapping: I think this is what you call it. It's like scrapbooking, but without pictures and albums... my mom and I endearingly call it crapping (crafting + scrapbooking). I've been really into that lately. I've made things like my ornaments, Will's ABC blocks, all of the girls prizes (and maggies), Shelly's V-day challenge, lots of gift-bags, cards/tags, letter boards, and this past week I made these canisters (from empty formula cans... I knew they'd come in handy!).

Also, this week I was finishing up the prizes (pics to come either tomorrow or next day!!!) and started some projects for my parents' b-days...

4. digital scrapbooking: I am fairly new at this... I say fairly because really I've been doing stuff like it for years in Word and didn't know it had a name to it. So I've been getting used to the whole idea that there's this HUGE online community with wonderful elements to work with, along with my image manipulation program, GIMP (which hardly anyone uses). I did a couple of pages before >>> Gramps and All Boy were done without any scrapbooking elements, just pure GIMP and Picasa. I have a couple pages in the works now (another time-consuming past-time this week) that I want to post really soon, hopefully later this week. And I'd like to get a header up on this site too... But for now, here are some pages that I've done in the past (don't judge me too harshly, I'm a newbie!!! >>> click on images for credits):

And ever since I've discovered the world of digi-scrap, I've found every excuse to use it in just about every post! It's an addiction...

5. miscellaneous stuff: Something I do for fun is just sit and brainstorm on something to make. Most of my "creations" are made out of wanting something at a store/boutique and promptly thinking "I can do that!" I admit that most things I make aren't necessarily of the same professional quality, but it's fun to do. But I also come up with crazy decorating ideas, like my framed tin-foil, my upholstered-from-a-slip-cover couch, my refurbished coffee table, my "puff frames" and these here boxes. They're not too pretty, but they do their job. They're made from cardboard and duct-tape, covered in suede shelf liner. It was cheaper than buying the fancy ones. I also wanted some really cute painted plaques from PBK, but decided to

make some of my own. So I've decided that I like to paint (wood especially), too. Oh, and I "design" things, like my wedding announcements and my wedding ring (hence calling this category misc. stuff).

6. take pics: I've always liked to take "fancy photos" but never had the proper teachings or techniques. But I still do it. I don't have a super fancy camera either, but here are some of my pics that I proudly display in and around my home (or blog for that matter).

>>> Soooooooo, lots of crafting going on! So here are my plans for some more projects (Easter ones) within the next few weeks. 1.) I want to make a bunny for Will, based on the Wee Bunny pattern. 2.) I want to make some small stuffed eggies for Will's Easter basket, based on the OJ&Co. pattern 3.) I want to revamp a chick-pully toy for Monk's basket (from Target's dollar section). 4.) a little manly apron for Willie

Oh, and speaking of making stuff, Heather, the amazing intellect behind Simply Fresh Designs, is the winner of the short de-lurking contest! Man, I totally failed on that one, I thought I would at least have some family member delurk, but no such luck. Haha! But I really can't complain because I have made some WONDERFUL friends via the net, including my cousin-in-laws that I have yet to meet in person (Katie and Heather), and random, but oh-so dear, blog buds that certainly deserve some honorable shout outs as well (Candra and Britt)! :) But yesterday was the other Heather's first time posting, and thereby de-lurking, so she gets a lil' ol' prize from moi. So I'll be adding that to my list, too (so I'll be needing your address... just email it to me dearie.)!

Sheesh, what a post. I hope you all enjoyed it. And I hope even more that it didn't come off as, "Look at me, look at what I can do!" because that is not what I meant at all! There are so many times when I feel so inadequate... I've always struggled with the fact that I never really excel in any one thing, but rather do lots of other things mediocre-ly. But I've come to realize that that's ok, and that that is rather quite beautiful, in and of itself! Here I am, just trying to develop my talents (while Brad is MIA), and there's nothing wrong with sharing what I do, right? In referring to a quote that I've seen so much of lately (and in all honesty, have already heard of before, quite a while ago...):

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
--Mariane Williamson, from 'A Return to Love'

But I've kinda crapped myself out, like I said previously. But I have lots of little stories and photos to share of Will and our adventures here in the 'bu, so I thought I would get all of this "crap" ;) out of my system so I can focus some more on my family. Not saying that I won't be making stuff or that I won't share things every now and then, because like I've said, this is what I do, this is my life, this is me. But I have some plans to get Brad up on here (whether he likes it or not!!!) and focus more on Will since the bulk of you come here to see or hear about him! So, stay tuned because those are my plans for the next few days: less me, more them!

PS- Now I pose this question to all y'all: What do you do for fun? I want to see what you all do for fun, whether it's biking, reading, cooking, etc.! So consider this a chain letter blog of sorts! :)