Make Way for Ducklings!

I’ve been busy planning for Marin’s 2nd birthday. Honestly, I started planning her party the day after her first birthday (blushing). I’ve decided to do a duck theme for her party because she loves “wack wacks.” While looking for duck theme ideas, lucky me, found this “Free Lucky Duck Tutorial” from Noseynest.

I made a couple this weekend. Marin and I are in love with them. I think it’s necessary that a family of these felt ducks attend Marin’s party. You can see other ducks made from this pattern if you visit the Nosey Nest Tutorial Group at Flickr.

The first three photos in this post were taken by my sister Katherine.

Sewing: McCalls M5362

I've made three of these bags and have been really happy with the end product each time. The pattern is simple to follow and creates a very usable, sturdy bag. Adding a pocket to the inside of the bag made it a bit more organized and added a little flair. This bag was created as a gift for my sister-n-law who will be starting chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer soon. I'm hoping this bag will help her carry necessities back and forth and ensure she looks stylish to boot!

Here is a picture of the cover for this pattern.

Weekend in Review

What a busy holiday weekend! Lots of fun with family and friends. Here’s a recap.

Friday: Kept Jami for a couple hours Friday evening so that Dan and Darci could enjoy a date night. Jami did great and really enjoyed our walk. These pictures are courtesy of my cell phone. I kept sending Darci updates to let her know that Jami really was happy! Hum, this could be “future me.” Two kids….am I ready for that?!

Saturday: Marin and I joined “the girls” for a day of WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING. We met for breakfast at la Madeline where we met Kyle’s mother Kelly, his grandmother Susan and his sister Kayla. Elizabeth’s best friend Amanda joined us too. She’s six months pregnant and is already a super cute mommy. The day was full of silly fun and beautiful gowns. A perfect girls’ day!

Meanwhile the male portion of my family (aka Steven) hit the road with his buddy Ricky for a day ride on the motorcycles. They logged a total of 250.2 miles and hours of fun. They spent portions of the day dodging rain or waiting it out with other motorcycles, determined to make the most of their holiday, but all in all they had a blast. Ricky said every town they stopped in they were treated “small town style” but what else would you expect? Steven and Ricky can strike up a conversation with a pole! They agreed the best parts of the trip were highways 149 and 3090. Lots of curves! (Hum, I think they must like their women like they like their roads! ) Sorry…back on topic. They had lunch in Montgomery, Texas and brought home gifts for their girls. Marin has enjoyed her Margaret Wise Brown book and I’m already envisioning a sewing project with the fabric Steven bought me.

Photo above by Hannah Taylor.

Saturday evening we all headed over to Aunt Belvia and Uncle Roberts house to celebrate Grandma Posey’s 83 birthday. I’d have taken pictures, but it was dark by the time we got there. It was a lovely evening with family gathered around white table cloth covered tables; the laughter and mummer of good conversation filling the evening air. Happy Birthday, Popey. We love you.

Sunday: We met family at The Pickett House for lunch. I’m not one to crave southern soul food, but I rarely turn down the opportunity to savor their chicken and dumplings. Yum, yum!

Monday: We had lunch at Mom’s house and the guys went fishing. They caught over 30 fish in all. Here is Steven proudly displaying his Gaspergoo trophy fish and Daniel with a stringer full.

Monday evening Steven took me to the Lakeside RV Resort and Marina for dinner. The sunset meal was a perfect ending to a fun filled weekend. Thank you Steven, for good food and fun conversation. I could have stayed there all night. I love you.

Something New From Something Old: The Curtain Purse

And here she is! Isn't this lovely? I'm amazed at how pretty she is. SUPER happy with this one. Can you believe that funny old curtain could turn into something so trendy and delicate?! Below are before and after shots. I'm really getting into this "Something New From Something Old" theme.



Remember that funny fringe on the bottom of the curtain? Well, now it's the strap. Don't want to deal with the strap? Tuck it inside creating a simple clutch. This Buttercup bag design is a free pattern design courtesy of Made By Rae blog spot. I really love her blog and the clever patterns she creates. Thank you Rae!


The outside was so simple, I thought it would be fun to throw a splash of color inside.


Oh, I'm so happy with the end result. Can't wait to find the next "something old." Stay tuned!

Sewing: McCall's M5830

Forgive me, I couldn't choose just one picture. When I saw this soft, white cotton fabric covered in tiny blue flowers I knew I just HAD to make a dress for Marin. Her lovely blue eyes simply shine in this simple spring dress. This is the second dress I've made from McCall's Stitch 'n Save M5830. The first time around I wanted to toss it in the trash, the second time was much better. Overall a very pretty dress. Don't you think?





Here is a pic of the cover for this pattern. Happy Sewing!

Children are Hope

Mom shared this Editor's Note from the May 2009 issue of Real Simple magazine with me. I thought it was worth sharing with all of you.

One sunny day in October 2001, I was sitting on the sidelines of a soccer game with my friend Margaret, watching our sons play. We were talking, as we did constantly during that terrible time, about the events of 9/11, and specifically about those in our suburban New York town who had died on that day. Margaret was lying on her back on the grass, balancing her young daughter on her knees. She gave her daughter a smile and said to me, “Doesn’t something like this just make you want to have more children?”

There were so many things Margaret could have meant with this question, and I felt as if I understood them all. Children are happiness; children are hope; children force us to live in the present; children will grow up to be the adults who will someday save us all. Upon closer examination, none of these things may actually be true, and yet every child we add to our families and communities is the ultimate symbol of optimism, that the future is worth investing in and sticking around for.

Fast-forward to the spring of 2009. Everywhere you look friends are losing their jobs, losing their retirement savings and college funds, questioning where we are all headed as individuals and as a nation. If after 9/11 we were grief-stricken and scared, now we’re in a simmering panic that one day feels like depression and the next day feels like rage.

And yet…happiness goes on. Nearly every year since 2003, we have featured on this page, portraits of the children recently born to Real Simple staff members. I have to admit that this year I’m happier to see these beautiful faces than I have been since we started the tradition. I’m not sure I can explain why, but I know Margaret would understand.

Kristin van Ogtrop

Joshua Coburn: A Texas A&M University Graduate

Who: My brother Joshua (A Second Generation Aggie)
What: His Graduation from Texas A&M University
With: A degree in Construction Science
When: Friday, May 15, 2009
Where: College Station, Texas
Wow: There were close to 1500 students who crossed the platform with Joshua and his ceremony was only one of three scheduled for that day. I think I heard there were 5,000 students graduating Spring 2009.

Joshua's graduation was a proud moment for all of us, but especially for mom and dad.

I've been told my blog is a bit girlie. Maybe this picture will "guy it up."

Favorite pic from the day. Ring, diploma and a cool graduate.

Dad checking to make sure the diploma is in the tube. It was! Whew!

Marin was a trooper. She sat through the three hour event and was the best behaved child in our section despite everything taking place during her typical nap time. She was understandably asleep before we were out of the parking lot.

Group shot! It's weird to see my family so grown up. I still imagine mom and dad with six kids when I think of our family.

We can not take family pictures without some funky fun. Somehow the tradition of a "crazy picture" began. Someone always shouts "Now let's do a crazy one." I always love these moments. They are a perfect opportunity for personal expression.

Congratulations, Joshua. We love you!