Sure, buy your 4-year old a sewing machine!

For Christmas this year, my daughter wanted a sewing machine.  I'd gotten her this one last year, but slightly different colors:

And though it meant well, it broke fairly quickly and was more trouble than it was worth because it frustratingly did not sew like a sewing machine. It's a toy. Plain and simple. So please, if any moms out there are looking to actually purchase a "starter" machine for thier children, do not waste your money on this!

I feel bad bashing this because my aunt actually bought Eleanor one of these this year and gave it to her on Christmas Eve.  And she totally loved it because she remembered how she had one and it broke.  She was 3, so she didn't really know that she couldn't actually make anything with it.  So on Christmas eve, she was excited to play with it!  My nephew, (who also loves to sew), joined in and and quickly realized it's limits.  I actually let him use mine when he comes over and he's pretty good at it.

So anyway, if you buy it as a "toy", then fine.  But just don't expect to get anywhere or be able to teach someone sewing with it.

So this year, when she told me Santa was bringing her a new sewing machine, I decided to look for a real one.  I got an email from Jo-Ann Fabrics about a sale on Janome sewing machines.  I've never used a Janome, but I've heard good things.  They magically had these Hello Kitty themed machines... I thought... how perfect because my daughter is def. engulfed in the whole Hello Kitty universe.



I didn't know what to expect, but I ordered it . And I have to say...  I am so impressed with this machine.  Granted, it's not meant for 4-year olds. This is a machine I would use for myself.  But I thought, why am I going to buy another piece of junk that's just going to get tossed in a year?  It's doesn't have a lot of little extra nonsense, but that's better.  The singer I got to replace my old shark machine has pretty swirlies on it... but honestly, I think this Janome is better.  As soon as I took it out of the box I could "feel" the difference.  It was heavy, sturdy, and just overall put together well.   And the biggest excitement was discovering the vertical bobbin, which to me makes so much more sense! I used a Bernina once at Fabricland when I was visiting my Aunt... and it was "love" at first stitch!  (wow... I just wrote that) But anyway, those had vertical bobbin casings and I thought that was so much better because there's less a chance for tangles and hiccups. Berninas are WAY OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE... but a girl can dream....

So mega points for Janome on this one.  I feel like overall, sewing machines just aren't made like they used to be.  Especially brothers. My mom has a back up machine that's a brother... and it's so light that you have to spend time holding it down while you sew. She hates it too, but it's good as a back-up when you're desperate.  Maybe that saves money somewhere in shipping?  lol...

In conclusion... you're never too young to start sewing!  You know your children well enough to judge when they're ready...  I just wish I started at 4...

 

 

xo FITTSmcFITTer

Saturday morning Jam session

Sometimes I think I'm as addicted to my kid as I am to coffee.

I don't really care to waste time wondering if that's good to bad, but in the meantime... I thought it'd be nice if we had some photos of us doin' what we do when we're hanging at home on a saturday morning.  This jam session happened after we built a snow fort in the living room.  We froze our toes off the day before so I decided to be lazy and just bring the snow in so I could enjoy coffee and the couch while she enjoyed the snow.  

I think it's important to stop organizing, stop packing, stop worrying, stop everything and just enjoy being exactly where you are right this moment.

I usually forget that and just run around the house like an  angry person and stay up all night fretting and scheming.
So for my new year, I'm going to not plan to do anything or stop doing anything.  I'm going to just try to remember to enjoy what I have today, and realize that I can live with much less.

And I'm going to put down all the sad pages...





Along with the happy ones.



I'm still trying to get my december daily mini album finished, so I'll get to that...  it's just these darn impromptu photo shoots that get me side-tracked!



I feel like I don't know what the heck I scrapbooked about before Eleanor?  I don't know what I did? lol.  I know all parents say it, but it's so true...  have no clue what life used to be before I had a kid.  All I do know is that it's so much better.  No matter what hard times we're going through.

:)  xo Fitts

Halloween Spread

And the follow-up scrap layout of the Halloween pics!
I only really had a handful of pics due to the whole... darkness and rain... stuff goin' on. And I didn't get to see the family as much as usual so I didn't get my goofy nephew pics.



But I'm glad I thought to take some pics around our block before it rained...



I'm enjoying another bowl of mashed potatoes as I type this... I had a sandwich in the car... but I was hungry again when I got home... and luckily Daryl didn't eat all the mashed potatoes.



And here's the making of the 12x12. The other side is PL style...



And now!!! Onto CHRISTMAS PROJECTS!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEE

All dressed in Vintage

So I had the awesome pleasure of playing photographer for a beautiful friends wedding. I still have around a billionty more pics to edit... But for now I just thought I'd share a couple with the brides permission... Without revealing people or places... Just yet anyway.

What was awesome about this wedding was that the dress was in its third generation of brides... From grandma to mom to daughter... So sweet! Of course by this round,it needed a little TLC... But it was absolutely gorgeous!
My fav was the tule underskirt...

And the veil was a simple classic style... brilliant!

I have to hand it to you photographers out there... It's a week later, and I'm still sore.  That's probably the most excercise I've gotten in years!  If anyone else ever asks me to be the wedding photog...  I think I'll need to train a bit first.  Holy bajeez what a work-out!  And probably more fun than flipping tires...  at least in my opinion.  I could be wrong because I've never actually flipped a tire... lol.  But I know a lot of people who do it on a regular basis...

To me, fall is the best time of year and what was supposed to be a rainy day turned out to be absolutely perfect!! Who knows though... in a few years, fall could be in january.  Which would be cool cos that's my b-day month... tee hee...  then I could have a Halloween birthday party!

So overall, it was an awesome day and I was honored to be a part of it.  Congrats Meg!  You made a perfect bride and I hope your new life chapter brings happiness, joy, and blessings!

xo, Fitty

Apple seedy yes indeedy!

So despite the back of the hand slapping we always receive when we go here, we somehow ended up back at Russo's in Chesterfield for Apple picking this year.
We thought about not going and trying another place but... we thought misbehaving again at the same farm is more fun than behaving at a new farm?!
We think at least. Next year we'll discuss again briefly and then probably end up back there letting our kids ride in the wagons, move the gourds out of place, and throw hay.


Eleanor knows how to spell her name, but I don't think she knows how to spell mine.. which made it funny when I realized the wagon she picked had my name on it. Yes, that's how you spell Fitty on wagons.  On the interwebs it's F  I T T Y.  Wagons, K A R E N.  Got it?  Good.    And Collin on a wagon is spelled K A T H Y.   It has something to do with the Secret National and International Association of people who use wagons for secret agenty purposes.   How do I know about it... heh...

I love how this blog has turned into a big crunchy photo share...  I've been busy but I don't even have to promise that I'll be scrapbooking these pics...  they are just too yummy! I might even do a mini album!



This is the newest member of our clan, Collin.  I just can't stand the adorable that pours outta this one!!!  He's the little nugget belonging to one of my besties Mary.  Right now he's also the easiest to grab shots of because he's not running around chasing other running around boys while throwing rotten apples.  So I was able to snap a few of those bad boy blues!!



Can you stand it!

And with each new pic of Eleanor, I say it's my fav... just like the latest song you wrote, you might as well throw out the rest.. But in this case, I'll be keeping them all. This one reminds me of an Olivia Newton John record album cover... Have YOU never been mellow?



I probably shouldn't point out the dirt smudge on her nose... coz before I wrote that, I was the only one who noticed.



oh, and they have pumpkins too.. all mine lost their stems rolling around the back of my car... :( boo!



Horsey is the ewesh when it comes to what Eleanor carries around with her, but the little sewing kit she found in one of my bags is a new addition. I don't know if she thought she might need to sew some apples back together or something. When we got home she did tell me she was mad at me for not fixing Luke's stuffed Sonic yet... It hasn't been a week yet, but I guess I should get right on top of that. After all it is a neck wound and this is the stuffie ER!!


And with that, the lost boys and I bid you farewell! Happy OCTOBER!!! YAY YAY! I mean HAPPY I WISH IT FELT LIKE OCTOBER AND NOT A RAINFORST THAT MAKES IT HARD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PUT THE AIR ON IN MY CAR OR JUST LEAVE IT OFF AND FEEL COLD AND STICKY AT THE SAME TIME OCTOBER OCTOBER!

Weekend Revisual: Project life July 20-21, 2013

Hi there frens!

Had a great weekend!  Just wanted to throw out some weekend pics, and then how we put them together for a weekend project life spread!

This first collage was actually made with a windows app called Turbocollage.  So far, a benefit is the ability to use a lot of pics in one collage.... like 20!  So I was able to sum up a birthday party pretty completely in three 4x3' spots on my PL layout.  Well... plus a couple 4x6's that stood out...

Here's some of the other pics we used:

And here's our spread!

And here's a video Roo did to tell you a very quick version of the entire weekend's activities...  she also goes on to demonstrate some Gelatos...  so if you're in need of toddler entertainment...  it's right here....  in a barbie dress.

Thanks and enjoy the rest of your crafty week!

Day in Revisual: Big time Rush Concert

This is me

So last month I took part in an online Studio Calico class called "This is me"with Lexi Bridges. She is awesome, just go check her out!

For some reason, I feel almost wrong scrapbooking about myself... like I'm saying...  "Hey, I think I'm cool!" or something.  It's like a selfie on facebook, you just don't do it unless there's some good reason or you have something ridiculous on your face that covers most of it. I don't know, but I think you all agree, it feels weird to move the direction of the focus off of our family, friends, and pets and onto ourselves.  And if you're a mommy, it's always all about the kids.

What intrigued me about this class was that the goal was to make a mini album. This is something I've never done. Like cards, I had little interest. But I can't lie, I'm now hooked. I love the idea that you don't have to pick out a cover (you can), but you can create the entire thing from scratch.

I cut some chipboard, covered it in fabric and vvvv wwaaa laaa I had the beginning and the end.  Now I just needed to fill it. To do the pic on the cover, I used printable fabric and then sewed it on the cover fabric that I chose before I modge-podged it to the chipboard.

The whole process was pretty dang enlightening. What was I going to include? That was tough... I feel like there are so many things that can be part of someone's life.. things that affect them on a daily basis. Though I felt like cleaning the house was not something that particularly touched me on an emotional level. Though re-organizing does have a way of setting free the endorphins of inspiration!

No, but seriously... I pretty much have to re-arrange my peg board or something before every craft session to get the juices going. It's like magic!

So anyway,  I narrowed my book down into a few catergories:

1. Family: ok, I know... but that's what makes me who I am. My family. And they're the most important. So of course, there's a big spread of my favorite little lady as well as the Hubs and the fuzzys.

The big swingy pic of Roo was also printable fabric. 

2. Interests/hobbies: Basically my crafty adventures using paper and a collection of sewing machines that each have a strength and weakness.. one with the fatal weakness of not working! Yikes!

3.  Music: Besides giving piano lessons, music is a big part of my life. When I was making this book, I decided to collect a handful of artists that I admired and just make a little pic collage. By no means did this include all, but whatever came to mind or what I've been listening to lately. This is where I really got sad... and happy at the same time... because I couldn't remember the last time I just sat and listened to an album... just for the sake of enjoying it. Granted, there's been a lot of disney and nick music blasting in my car due to Roo, but in-between audiobooks, there hasn't been a recent "GOD I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO THIS SONG!" So I'm on a mission to change that. To make an effort to just listen like when I was a teenager with a new Belinda Carlisle cassette on the bed following along with the lyrics.

 4: Some random current interests/likes.

5: Goal. Yes one goal. To cure my headaches.

6. A short note to my Grams.  She's the one person I think about everyday. She was awesome and I miss her.

It's not over embellished... some pages are down right messy! But I decided not to over-think it and just let it be what it was going to be. So it ended up longer than I imagined, and much more journally than I imagined. I felt like I had so much to say about every page...  and in the end I was re-introduced to myself and I'm now kinda itching to pick up things that I put down throughout the years.

To not do things because I care what people think, or don't think... or say or don't say... but just to do them because it's fun and enjoyable.  To share for the sake of sharing and not worry about who will make fun of me tomorrow...  After all, does it matter? The most important things are the simple ones. So ENJOY them! And don't forget to take pictures!

I know ... I keep saying I'm going to do a workshop and never follow through... but I will! And I think this would be a great first project. So if anyone's up for finding yourselves in June, I'll make it a point to set something up.

Fashion Show Music

Sometimes ... life is really stinky.

And it makes you wonder how things like this:

fit into it.

She's next to me now telling me how her baby bear is growing up too fast as she's drawing on the chalkboard wall. The thought of her growing up makes me want to cry because I feel like the world isn't good enough for her. I feel like I'm not good enough for her sometimes too...

But we try to have fun as much as possible. 

These are pics from last weekend when we got a dusting of snow. We enjoyed it until the afternoon sun melted it almost away.

Our house got flipped, turned upside down...  well, two houses and we didn't bother to pick em up. They were just as much fun knocked over.

Hopefully we'll get enough snow to build a third house this weekend!

So this page was from pics of her popping her head through that side window of the knocked over house:

I plan on doing some of the other pics from that day this weekend.



Because keeping up with PL is actually easier than I thought. I don't do a pic from every single day..  but at least a highlight or two each week. We may have to dig into making some Valentine Cards for her classmates this weekend also...

I'm bad about tracking my materials ...  there's not too much stuff involved that didn't come from a SC kit. The embossing powder and heat gun I've had forever from being a CTMH consultant. But you can get that anywhere... Any craft supply store would have it.  You can also get it from me if you wanted?  lol.

I just watched a video by a well known scrapbooker, Shimelle Laine, and she talked about how Scrapbookers kinda hide their hobby from those who aren't into it.

And it's so true, because we feel it's not something that is a respected by most people as more than a waste of time.  I get crappy comments like "you must have nothing better to do." But I think it's important to leave time for things you enjoy...even if you're  a single mom of 17...  I didn't have much time for it when Roo was a screaming baby 24/7 but now she can do it with me... or any other art project she wants to at the time. It's the perfect kid bonding time.  So if it's between watching TV every night and scrapbooking... which one is a waste of time?

Here is the making of this last layout:

Twelve by 12' ROO flower layout

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ1WNVK40Gs]

Enjoy!  And it's probably going to be a great night for staying indoors so craft on my frens!

p.s  I wish I had some good fashion show music to go with this vid...   dang.

xo fittsnersalad