Another in my long list of shameless plugs:

My Spring Album Kit is now available at TheScrappyGourmet.com

And Scrappy Gourmet has also re-stocked my Beach Album Kit:

There, I’m finished promoting my kit designs,

I may just go throw up now.

_________________________________

In other news…

I was sewing like a crazy lady yesterday.

I had some leftover fabric from a couple Aprons I am making….

I thought that I may just have enough fabric there to experiment with a Lap Quilt.

I should have been cleaning my house, especially since Laura is coming this weekend.

But I had the entire day off and really wanted to create something.

Sigh.

So after the kitchen was cleaned thoroughly

and while I did ten loads of laundry,

I quilted.

I was happy with how the little quilt turned out.

Keep in mind that I put it together without a pattern

and I’m still too nervous and inexperienced to try free-motion quilting,

so…it’s nothing to write home about.

I hope you have a FANTASTIC weekend!

xoxo, Christie

Have you grown tired of me dragging out my little Spring Album?

Today is the last day.  Promise.

More Maya Road Chipboard accents & here I added some Jenni Bowlin Vintage Buttons:

Maybe it’s the quilting influence…I’ve been making lots of squares:

The last few pages of an album are always the hardest for me to create.

It was really hard to cover up any element on the beautiful Prima paper, so I chose not to on this page:

A little close up of the metal-rimmed tag:

Another little detail…

The final two pages (aren’t you glad you hung in there till the end?):

I love the ribbon on this page.  I think it was American Crafts.

Down to the last little detail…

Now, off you visit all of your blogs!

Here’s another look at the Spring Album that I made using Prima Papers.

I love all the soft colors…they just make me feel good.

I never get tired of Maya Road’s little chipboard accents.  I used a pen to add pink dots and some glitter to the circle in the photo above.

I love glitter.

On this page I let the Prima Flowers take over.  I love how the flowers match the paper perfectly.

Here, I just cut out some of the birds from the Prima paper and added some glitter.

Did I mention I love glitter?

I’ll share the rest of the Spring Album photos tomorrow…be sure to stop back by to see the remaining pages.

____________________________________

In other news…

Today is my brother, Seth’s Birthday.

Happy Birthday Seth!

And just because he’s cute…

Here’s a photos of Seth’s little baby Cooper:

I love Spring!

Everything is fresh and new…

…we spend more time outside

…we enjoy picnics at the park

…we plant & tend a vegetable garden (Memorial weekend here)

…we start to see all the baby animals along side their mothers.

I just love Spring!

_______________

To create the above album I used Prima paper and a Pink Paislee Album & Letter Stickers.

Stay tuned, I’ll post additional photos all week long.

There was a day last year when my father told me that I was the happiest person he knew.

Always smiling and positive.

For some reason I find myself arriving at my happy place but I just can’t stay there.

Lately it’s been so hard for me to stay positive….

And now, I find my feelings spilling over onto my blog.

Maybe this is just me

reaching out?

I’m not sure.

I pulled Parker out of school last Friday.  He will be staying home for the last few weeks.

Being Autistic and becoming a teenager has started to take it’s tole on me as a mother.

I’m exhausted.  Mentally.

He’s been so angry.  Defiant even.

And I’m at my whits end.

Where did my sweet boy go?

He’s in there somewhere, he’s a good boy.

I know he is.

I love him so much, more than words.

He’s just struggling.

And lately I feel helpless…

Like a bad Mom.

I never knew raising a teenager could be so hard.

I’ll figure all this out…I know I will.

You will now see more sewing on my layouts.

Do you want to know why?

Even if you don’t want to know…I’m about to tell you.

I have purchased my very first sewing machine!

I bought this little beauty from Bill Blakely and got a screaming deal:

I was expecting to pay around $300.

I paid $65.

I love you Bill Blakely.

And I love my machine!

___________

I purchased my Janome last Saturday.

I wasn’t feeling very well but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to visit with Bill {I was introduced by my sweet friend Courtney} and perhaps purchase a used machine.

Even though I wasn’t feeling well, I couldn’t help but start to sew.

And then I kept sewing. all. day. long.

I made this apron:

And this purse:

And this purse too:

Not bad for a beginner, aye?