You Go Girl!

Something Fishy...

I had request for a beach bag with tropical fish on it. Sure. I can do that. I envisioned a stripe or a polka dot paired with some fabulous fabric with fanciful fish frolicking in the surf. Apparently, though, if you want to see tropical fish you need to go to the reef. Fabric with tropical fish does not seem to be the rage. Try as I might, I could not find a piece that suited my design aesthetic. I ended up rethinking the project. I hope it pleases.

On a different note, the sun has FINALLY decided to shine in Montana. Yay! I am enjoying a weekend full of family, fun, and fireworks. Wishing you the same. Except if you are a friend from distant shores, that fireworks thing might be kinda weird. So I'll just be wishing you a lovely weekend. :-) 

Hello. My Name Is...

Hello. My name is Cassie. I am wife to one. Mom to five. Friend to many. This is my You Go Girl blog. I like to write about my family and crafty things. What? You already know all this? Oh. Ok. I thought maybe introductions were in order since I have been so scarce in this space. Every day I think of something I would like to blog about, but it has been busy, busy, too busy around here...

My girl is graduated. Her birthday was celebrated.

Planters have been planted. Sprinklers repaired.

Games have been played.

Yellowstone was toured.

And, my kitchen is almost completely renovated.

Things seem to be returning to normal chaos around here so I've been partaking in some crafty goodness. Be back next week with something to show you. 

XOXO~

Cassie

I Will Wear a Smile...

Tomorrow Miss Hailey will

turn eighteen

AND

graduate from high school.

BUT

I will not cry.

INSTEAD 

I will wear a smile

AND

let my heart  soar

BECAUSE

My girl is equipped and ready

to live her

DREAMS!

(Okay. Maybe I will have just a teeny tiny lump in my throat. I am her mama, after all.)

Feeling Owly

I put the finishing touches on these little owls more than a week ago. (Pattern found here. Thanks, Jessica.) Since then NOTHING crafty has been going on. This makes me feel a little owly. It seems that all my time has been consumed by stripping wallpaper and washing wallpaper paste off the walls. Rip. Spray. Scrape. Spray. Scrub. Wipe. Spray. Scrub. Wipe. Rinse. Wipe. Move over. Repeat. Gag!!! I think I would rather poke needles in my eyes than remove wallpaper. I have told my family that if I suggest that we put wallpaper on anything ever again, they are to take me out in the back yard, beat me, and then see how I feel about that wallpaper. 

I probably shouldn't be complaining. This wallpaper removal is part of a major kitchen renovation. I have been looking forward to a kitchen redo since we moved into this house twelve years ago. But...come on...Rip. Spray. Scrape. Spray. Scrub...UGH! The good news? I think I am done with wallpaper eradication. Tomorrow I get to start priming and painting the walls. I like painting better than wallpaper removal, but just by a little bit. I must remember to keep my eye on the prize. It's a good one!

Jingle All The Way...

Jingle bells. Jingle bells. Jingle all the way.

I hope that little tune didn't cause any of you to feel a wee bit o' holiday panic. I wouldn't want that. And really, I'm not singing about Christmas jingle bells. The jingle bells I'm loving are in this little jingle ball.

I tried something new when I made this ball. I cut the pieces for the ball on the bias. I don't know if I came up with this idea myself or if I read it somewhere and stored the info in the recesses of my brain. Either way, it was an Einstein moment. If you cut your pieces on the bias, the ball will be round when you stuff it, not something that approximates round but looks more like a giant kiwi. Genius!

I stitched this little jingle ball for my new friend, Austin. He entered this world facing a host of challenges that most babies never know. He is fighting hard and doing things no one thought he would. He's a scrappy little boy. It will be a treat to watch his life unfold. 

That's all for now.

Have a glorious weekend --

Cassie

One more thing...In case you are wondering, there are 239 days until Christmas. Jingle all the way!

Workin' on Some Posh

I worked up some Posh Pillowcases for the girls' birthdays. Isn't it funny how we craft for everyone but ourselves? I've made quite a few pillowcases and none of them resided at my house until now. It's kinda like the shoemaker's kid not having any shoes. Well, no more. There are four Posh Pillowcases on beds in my house. Girl number 5 doesn't have a birthday until June. She is going to have to wait. That's something for me to look forward to. I never get tired of stitching up some Posh (tutorial found here).

Thirteen

 

I have thought about this day from the moment these three entered the world...This is the day that I officially have FIVE teenage daughters living under my roof. It used to scare me to death. But if my two older daughters (15 and 17) are any indication of what it is like to have teenage girls about, I am in for some very good days ahead. I just have to make it through 7th and 8th grade. Sometimes 7th and 8th grade girls make me want to poke needles in my eyes. I think I'm going to make it, though. After all, I'm 3/4 of the way through 7th grade triplets all ready. Woo Hoo! Happy birthday my little triplet gingers. I love you more than words can say. Even when you chew gum in my ear, or toss your back packs carelessly about my tidy living room, or steal my hairbrush and forget to put it back, I still love you lots. 

 

Playing Hooky

Things I should be doing:

• stripping wallpaper
• selecting countertops, flooring, and cabinets for a kitchen redo
• shopping for the birthday bombardment that is just around the corner 
• scheduling an appointment with a computer tech
• dusting my house 
• clearing my flower beds
• folding the load of laundry that has "de-wrinkled" at least 7 times
• washing the layers and layers of spring-thaw mud off my vehicle
• etc., etc., etc.

But I am not doing any of these things. I'm playing hooky. The rhythm of the crochet stitches and the feel of the yarn in my hands is balm for my being. Why is that?

Crocheting is not the only hook for me, though. Another little distraction I've been attending to is Downton Abbey.

I downloaded the season from itunes. I am hooked.

Hooked...Hooky...Playing Hooky. I should probably go now. I think I just might need to watch another episode.

Translation Please...

(photo found here)

I was so gaga over the images in this book that I bought it forgetting that I don't speak or read Japanese.

Seriously, can you even stand the eye candy? I think I have a cavity in my eye.

If only I could figure out what it says. Translation? Anyone?? Nevermind, it is enough just to gaze upon the loveliness.

 

Craft Hope

My birthing kits for the Craft Hope Konbit Sante project went in the mail today. To hold the contents of the birthing kits, I beautified some canvas bags that I bought at Joann's. I'm not in love with these canvas bags. I could not get the wrinkles out of them even though I rinsed them to remove the sizing. The next time I need a canvas bag, I think I will find a new source. I would like them to be softer, a more natural color, and I would also like to ditch the boxed bottom. Any one have a good supplier?