Fotography Friday: Nieces and Nature

Well, I don't have a baby yet. The induction is set for May 31st at 8pm. Maybe she'll arrive on her own before then, but if not, that's okay. At least there's an end in sight! :)

I have 5 pictures for my first Foto Friday.

The first is of my niece, Z. I think she looks adorable, but the picture itself isn't exactly what I was wanting. When I tried to edit it, nothing went right, so I just decided to forget about changing anything. So, this is the original photo. I like that it's kind of an action shot, her face is great... but it's too dark and there's a shadow I dislike a lot.

The next photo is of my niece, D. Originally this photo had too much going on in the background and wasn't focused enough on her. I cropped the photo, edited some of the sides to get rid of extra stuff that didn't belong and then decided to turn it black and white. I like that her face is in focus, that it's using the rule of thirds, and that there is movement captured. I wish I knew how to edit color better, though.

The next 2 photos are of some duckies hanging out by the fishing pond in our apartment complex. I like the first one because the foreground in blurred and the ducks are in focus. I lighted the shadows, since the original picture was too dark and I cropped the photo a little bit. The second photo I also lightened and cropped. The colors of the ducks are fun and I really like the reflections in the water, as well.

The last photo is a black and white of an awesome weeping willow tree. I love those so much! I felt the black and white gave it a very serene look. I also made it black and white because I was upset that the sky color was completely white and not blue at all. Obviously in B&W you can't tell that.

Any comments or critiques are appreciated! Thanks!

Until Monday (assuming I make it through the weekend without having the baby),
Amy

My first "Thoughtful Thursday"

Hi friends!

I hope you like the new blog design. I know, it's nothing too fancy, but I'm super proud of myself for creating that banner up top all by my lonesome! :)

Anyway, today is the first "Thoughtful Thursday". If you're confused as to what that is, check out my new tab titled, "About me and the blog". I've created a schedule for the blog. Every Thursday I'll be writing about whatever is on my mind. And today that is...

Having a baby!

I mean, what else could possibly be running through my head now that I am officially a week overdue?! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining here. I actually haven't minded being pregnant in the past week. Ironically I was more annoyed with being pregnant at 39 weeks that I am today at 41. I suppose that's because there is now a very clear end in sight. I have a midwife appointment tomorrow and my induction is scheduled for June 1st. That means that within one week from today, Dan and I will officially be referring to each other as "mommy" and "daddy". Hahaha. Oh, who would have ever thought that day would come.

What I am looking forward to:

1. Finally being able to see her sweet face. I know that I'll miss her kicks and squirms, but I've been dying to see what she looks like!

2. Getting to know her personality. My mom swears that she's going to be stubborn because she's refusing to come out of me. I promptly told her that I disagree since she's just so comfortable in there and doesn't actually know any better - I mean, who would actually want to leave the womb if they knew what kind of place the world is!? Plus, I'm a firm believer in that your children are what you affirm them to be and I don't want her to start out her life being known as "the stubborn one".

3. Seeing Dan in his new role as a father. The other day we were at the mall and this sweet little girl was walking by holding hands with her dad and she peeked around his legs and smiled right at Dan. He looked at me and said in the sweetest voice, "I want one!" I know he's going to be an amazing dad.

4. All the sewing and craft projects I get to do for her. I want to get started immediately, but I also want to wait and see what kinds of things she likes so I can make her things she'll play with and love to wear.

5. Teaching her to do crafts with me. Is it awful that I dream about this? I mean, I literally dream about sitting around the kitchen table doing crafts with her. Those are my favorite kinds of dreams. Obviously this won't happen for a while, but I really am looking forward to it.

6. Snuggling. I'm such a touchy person. I love hugs and I especially love snuggling with babies. :) I've really missed being able to give my nieces really great hugs in the past 5 months due to my emerging belly. Soon, I get to snuggle with my daughter and give my nieces those long overdue bear hugs that last 5 minutes each.

7. My feet no longer being swollen. Yep, for the past week my feet have not stopped swelling. Dan calls them block feet. If you press on them, the indent will stay there for at lest 30 seconds before they swell back up again.

8. No longer experiencing horrible pubic bone and back pain. This one's a no brainer. :)

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Those are just a few of the things I am looking forward to the most. I can't wait to show you pictures of her! And, for good measure, here's a picture of me today at 41 weeks. Sorry for the crap photo. It was very difficult trying to take a self-portrait. Try not to gawk!

 

Until Next Time,

Amy

P.S. Tomorrow is Fotography Friday! So, if I don't have a baby tonight, check for that post!

Under Construction

I'm changing up my blog routine. I'm also changing up the look of the blog. I'm trying to figure out photoshop to make myself a logo and a prettier header for this page. Check back soon for the new look and unique, daily posts. :)

Until then,
Amy

Learning the Ways of my Camera

For our anniversary, Dan bought me a new photography book that's specific to my camera (The Nikon D3100) and also talks about how to take better pictures in different settings. I love it. At the end of each chapter it has a homework assignment. Here's the before and after of my favorite picture from the first chapter's homework.

I love duckies!

I like the water in the background on the first photo, but I needed to lighten the picture to show more of the duck's details and the water went a little wacky, so I cropped it out. And yes, the duck on the right is missing half of his bill. Poor guy!

And here's one of my all-time favorite pictures of Dan. This is the face he gives me when I'm being ridiculous, but slightly less exaggerated here and it's usually accompanied by a head shake. :) The only thing that annoys me is the effect the glasses have on the right side of the picture. See if you notice what I'm talking about..

Hopefully next time I'll have either a baby to show (FINGERS CROSSED!) or Z's dress.

Until then,
Amy

One Yummy Anniversary Sundae

Yesterday, Dan and I celebrated 3 years of marriage. The day didn't exactly go as "planned" and I'll spare you all the details. I'll just say that the Full Moon had some funky affects - which didn't include enticing the baby to come out, sadly - and something just seemed off all day. Luckily, thing worked themselves out eventually and we had a nice and relaxing evening eating awesome dessert, playing Gin Rummy, and watching TV.

So, I thought I'd share pictures with you of the yummy dessert we ate. Dan dreamed this up the night before and it was amazing.

The ingredients:

M&M Cookies

Awesome Vanilla Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, and Cherries

Ghiradelli Brownie Mix with Heath Bar Bits mixed in

The Assembly:

So good!!! :)

Until Next Time,
Amy

From the Kitchen and Sewing Machine

Every week I try to make a to-do list to complete. Most of the time only about half of the things on the list get completed. This past week I was supposed to be participating in "Kid's Clothes Week Challenge" where I was going to be sewing clothes for an hour everyday of the week. I failed. The only thing I did was complete that baby quilt I've been working on for Autumn. I still have yet to start on Z's dress (well, that's not totally true, I cut out 2 pieces of fabric... that's something right??).

Yesterday, I spent all day cleaning. Typically I like to follow a day of cleaning with a day of doing nothing. That's what today is. I look at blogging as part of that "nothingness" so here I am, catching you up on my most recent finish and some yummy food that Dan has made in the past week.

Here are pictures of the quilt in its finishing stages, so you can see the difference between: A). Just sewn together; B). With the seams cut; and C). After it's been washed. I hope you like it! I'm totally in love with it, but I did spend an excessive amount of time on it, so that could be why!  :)

A).  Sewn together

B). Seams Cut

C). The finished, washed, quilt.

It's just so soft and cuddly looking! I can't believe it's finally finished!

Anyway, on to food that Dan has been making. First, let me say that Dan is awesome cook... he just hates cleaning up afterward (who doesn't?). So, we don't normally get to eat his yumminess. BUT, for my first Mother's Day, instead of taking me out to breakfast, he made me one that was better than I could have gotten anywhere else.

Behold the chocolate chip pancakes covered with strawberries and powdered sugar (oh my goodness they were amazing!!):

And here are some pretty flowers that my Aunt sent me in honor of my "first" Mother's Day. Beautiful!

 

 Until next time,

Amy

An Ode to My Mothers

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." - Abraham Lincoln 

And here is my one and only Momma. :) This is probably my favorite picture of all time. We don't have very many pictures together at all. In fact, every time she comes home from China I think, "let's take pictures together!"... It never happens. But if we never have another picture together, that's okay, because this one is perfect. She looks so beautiful! I like that you can tell we're mother and daughter because I have her smile and her eyes. I'm blessed with a beautiful Momma - inside and out. Her laughter is my favorite thing about her. It's so goofy, unpredictable, and infectious. It's impossible not to laugh when she laughs and she laughs all the time! She taught me to never be shy of being yourself and to always do what makes you happy. Actually,  here's a little story from when I was growing up - Every time I would ask my mom to buy me something like shoes or a shirt or a backpack she would ask why I wanted it. If I ever said, "because everyone else has it", she would never buy it for me. It's true. I'd say this is where my unique "style" comes from. (I know 2 people who are probably cracking up laughing at the fact that I think I have any "style" at all ::cough cough:: Megan and Shane ::cough cough::)


I can't say that my Mom has been my only motherly influence in my life. There is, of course, my step-mom Lynda, who has always done her best to include me as one of her own children and has been such a positive influence on my life. She is always full of wisdom and never hesitates to help anyone who needs it. My dad always talks about his step-mom as being one of his favorite people and when he and Lynda got married he wished that we would have the same sort of relationship as he did with his step-mom. I'd say his wish definitely came true.

Then there is my mother-in-law who has always been so positive and generous. She has such a wonderful heart of service and I know she will be an awesome role model and grandmother for Autumn. I'm lucky to have the in-laws that I do. :)

I can't forget Mama Purdie, my best friend's mother, whom I call Mama Purdie because we know each other too well and love each other too much for me to refer to her as "Mrs." Every time I took a trip home from college I would always go to their house and from the very first visit, I always felt like I had another home. I miss being able to participate in her annual Christmas cookie decorating event, and I really really miss her hugs! She gives the best hugs, ever!

And last but not least, all of my "moms" that I grew up with on the Ashram. One amazing thing about living in a community where dinner is shared all together, house chores are split between residents, and everywhere you go you're bound to see someone, is that there was never a lack of positive motherly influence in my life. From my teachers to women that lived in the house with me to my friend's moms, I have had so many loving and caring mother figures. I owe much of who I will be as a mother to all of those women.

So, to all you mommas out there, Happy Mother's Day! (I know it's a day late, but when is it ever a bad time to celebrate your moms?!) Thank you for all of your love and support throughout my life! I can't wait to become a mom and share all of the love you've given me with my daughter.

Amy/Sundari

Kids Clothes Week Challenge 2011

  Next week - assuming this baby is still inside of me - I'll be participating in the "Kids Clothes Week Challenge" put on by blogger Elsie Marley. The rules are simple: sew clothes for your (or your friend's) children for 1 hour a day every day of the week. I think I can devote 1 hour of my day to sewing kids' clothes, don't you? Anyone else want to join?? Check out that blog link! ^^

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I'm still looking into good places to take maternity pictures. Dan and I ventured to a park yesterday around 7pm and I didn't like hardly any of the pictures that I took. I semi-blame this on the fact that Dan hasn't had his hair cut in 3 months and looks so goofy (sorry, babe). I wasn't taking maternity photos yet, just looking to see how that time of day affected the picture lighting and also how the landscape looked. I did take this "artsy" picture of a leaf while trying out my camera's macro setting:

I should probably mention that I don't know how to use the editing program, yet. lol.

Here's a goofy picture of Dan, just for the fun of it. The haircut is happening today. :) [I know it seems like I'm really getting on him about this hair issue, but seriously we've been planning to get it cut for over a month now. He also hates the way it looks, so I'm not just the crazy, nit-picky wife. lol.]

 

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Things checked off my most recent to-do list: 

Well, none are totally completed, but I have nearly finished Autumn's quilt, and I've also designed Stacy's purse and have bought the fabric for it. I'm realizing now that I forgot to get the zipper... That's okay, when I go to the store to get some fabric for kids clothes, I'll be sure to pick that up. 

I'll post pictures of the quilt probably tomorrow, after it's had its first tumble in the dryer to get it looking nice and "raggie".  

Until next time,

Amy

An Unexpected Handmade Wonder

About a week ago I went to our apartment complex's office to pick up a package I'd received.

The sender: Bhagavati. One of my best friends growing up.
The gift: This lovely home-sewn quilt with a wonderful story behind it.

YES! Those are snowmen!

Instead of trying to tell the story myself, I figured I'd just retype the wonderful letter she sent with it.

Now this gift has a bit of a story behind it, some of which I hope you already know, that being associated with the somewhat out-of-place blue snowman patches on the quilt intended for your Spring daughter (but perhaps appropriate since her intended name is Autumn!). These patches were once your pajama pants that were stolen by me at some slumber party or other between grades 2 and 8. Although they were always a big to be for me (or because) I love those pants to death! They were so soft and comfy and warm in the Winter! I wore them all through high school and brought them to Massachusetts with me to college. They kept me warm despite a large hole in the crotch that I had patched at least once. 

By late 2009 (that's at least a 10 year old pair of PJs) I knew they couldn't be worn anymore but I couldn't throw them out! And no one would buy them and give them the love they deserved (it sounds pretty weird in words now...!). So, what do people make with worn-out fabrics? Quilts! Now I just needed an excuse to make a send a quilt to my friend from 8 years ago with whom I am rarely in touch... can I just say thank goodness you got pregnant?! Not only is it a great excuse for quilt-making, but the quilt (my first finished) can be small, and it has a deadline... something I need to get anything done. 


So, I bought the fabric in the Fall... trying to stay pretty neutral and I think it walks that color line quite well! I apologize for the not-professional-standard machine top-stitching... best I could do with my limited resources, and I really hope you use and enjoy it! 


When I received this, I had just the week before that thought to myself, "what ever happened to those snowmen pajamas??" It was such a wonderful surprise to receive this quilt! I don't know what she's apologizing for with the top stitching -- it is simply perfect! I can't wait to take photos of Autumn all wrapped up in it and eventually tell her the story behind it, as well. 

I'm so blessed to have such talented and thoughtful friends!!
Thank you, Bhagavati!

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One last thing before I sign out - I wanted to share a photo of Roo (a.k.a. Kitty) that I've taken with my new camera. I NEVER get to take pictures of her without her eyes looking evil, so I'm pretty excited about this one! :)

 

I'm obviously still learning about the camera, how to focus it properly, and how to take decent pictures... be patient. :) 

Until next time,
Amy

So Busy, So Little to Show for it.

Somehow, in anticipation for our little one, each day seems to drag on and on. Yet, despite the sense of "added time" in each day, I haven't been very productive at all.

The only project I have managed to complete since my last blog post 2 weeks ago is my niece's dress. Not both, just one. I haven't even cut out the other one. The first dress was the first garment I've made since 10th grade, and it was quite frustrating! I got a little worn out from it and decided to take a bit of break before sewing the next one. I am not a huge fan of the way the pattern was put together, so I may try to change things for the next dress.

They were supposed to be Easter dresses, but now I'm thinking they can be "Meet my new cousin" dresses.

The whole front

The Bodice

The back

I originally picked this dress to sew because I thought it would fit my niece's requirement for a good dress - the ability to "flat out". Meaning, if she twirls, the dress raises and flattens and twirls with her. Unfortunately, this dress probably won't be able to do this. I'll make sure the next dress I make for her will be able to.

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Here's my to do list for before the baby arrives:


1. Design a purse for a friend, buy fabric for that purse, and sew it.
              I've been having trouble with this one. Her birthday party was a few days ago, and due to feeling under the weather I wasn't able to go. I did, however, promise her a purse, so a purse she will get. The problem: the only thing I've ever "designed" is a patchwork pillow. It had very specific dimensions and only had rectangular pieces. I've been trying to find a pattern that will work for her online and in stores, but seriously nothing seems right! So, wish me luck as I try to figure out how to sew a zipper, and put together a purse from the first real pattern I've ever created. At least I have a zipper foot! The only other time I've sewn a zipper, it was on a dress in 10th grade, and I had to sew it by hand. It sucked.

2. Sew dress #2 for niece #2.
               I've just gotta suck it up and do this! And I better do it quickly - this baby could arrive any day now!

3. Sew a "plain bag" for my BFF.
               Megan wanted a simple tote bag for her books. She already has a "fashion statement" purse that she carries to school, but she also needs a purse that will carry her books and not clash with her other bag. I was supposed to sew this a long time ago, but I can't find one of the elements the pattern calls for, and I also don't know if the purse she picked out will reliably hold her books. I'm trying to find a way to make it more stable.

4. Finish the rag quilt I've started for Autumn. 
               I've started sewing my first ever quilt. I've run into some trouble since I don't have a walking foot, which seems to be essential for sewing layers of fabric. But, I'm going to finish this quilt without it, since it's not your typical quilt. Here's a link to the tutorial I'm following for this project: Creations by Kara.

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This isn't obvious by pictures that I post on here, but I love great photography. I especially love great photos of babies, weddings, engagements, families, etc. Recently, I tried to convince Dan that we needed to find a photographer to take pictures of the baby when she's 1-2 weeks old and then at different intervals throughout her first year. But, photographers are expensive! Well, they're priced right for their talent, their time, and what you get from each session, but it's more than we want to spend in a year on pictures. Instead, Dan convinced me (this must have been some weird reverse psychology that I subconsciously did, because I've wanted this outcome for a LONG time) that we need to buy our own camera so that we can have an unlimited amount of pictures! Although I won't be able to take as wonderful of pictures as most professionals can, at least I can take them whenever I want and in whatever situation. Here's the beauty we'll be buying within the next 2 days:

Until next time,
Amy