Before and After Project #4 - Christmas Mittens

I wanted to make some gifts for my friends this year. I live in a new town since the last time I made these Christmas Mittens...so I thought...why not give it a go. I scrounged into the sewing boxes that have yet to be unpacked from the move (6.5 years ago) and found the long lost pattern. The pattern originates from a 12 or 13 year old Martha Stewart Magazine. Yup, that is before her time in jail. This pattern is old.....but with the adjustments I made....It still creates a perfect cozy warm mitten.  I had to venture to the fabric store in my newish town. Haven't done that in a VERY long time. Found the perfect Christmas colours and voila!

The cutting stage.

Close up of the pattern perfected.

Ready for the sewing assembly line.

Mittens in the various stages of sewing.

Mittens all done and ready to warm the hands of my friends. 

I hope they go over well. They are just so super cozy and comfortable and have a cuff that doesn't allow any air to creep up through your mittens. I will be sporting this new fashion along with 5 of my friends. I hope they like.

PS possibly have some extra pairs for sale.....$8.00 a pair plus the cost of shipping.
If you are interested in more than 1 pair ... leave a message and I will contact you.

Before and After Project #3 - Fall Quilt

On my recent trip to Vancouver I stopped at some scrapbook stores and some quilting stores and stocked up on some great items to be crafty come September. Maybe even earlier. I have also cleaned my scraproom/craftroom to make room for all my ingenious ideas and projects of which there are many. My friend Kelli inspired me to get some fabric and to start making stuff. I wonder who will be the recipient of my craftiness this year? So here is a photo of the beautiful materials purchased!

 I think I my love of quilting has finanlly re-emerged.  I was inspired by a small quilt shop that my oldest son and I found in Fort Langley and also the absolutely gorgeous fall colours found in the materials that I picked up. I am at the point where I have to actually quilt the project. I am trying to make my new sewing machine stipple the quilt. I have not been able to get the tension just right. I am still getting loops on the underside of the quilt. I have changed the tension various ways and still end up with the same result. I supposed I am in need of some  more testing. So here is a picture of the quilt so far. It is absolutely perfect! It looks even richer in real life! I can harldy wait to get the sewing machine working to my liking and finish this project!

Before and After Project #2 - River Valley Trails

We have got to live in the most picturesque area of BC and we are so lucky to have amazing trails and parks. This morning we walked down the River Valley trails park for about 5 km. This is Erik's favourite area because he has been keeping track of the local beaver's activities down there. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning! I know Jeremy doesn't look so thrilled....he gets dragged along to everything....but them's the breaks when you are the only kids at home!

I had a chance to scrap these pages. They look similar, but I like doing that when we are on the same excursion. LOVE THE FALL COLOURS! They are just snuggle up welcoming!

Before and After Project #1 - The Star Album

With all the extra time on my hands I have allowed myself some CREATIVE EXPLORING time to fulfill the creative spirit in me that is often put by the weighside when I am busy planning for 24 eager students and busily writing essays to fulfill my Masters Degree course requirements.  I had a bunch of leftover supplies from a kit I purchased a while ago so I decided to take on a mini-album I saw in the 2009 Christmas edition from Scrapbook Trends magazine. So taking the leftovers and 12 pieces of 12 x 12 cardstock (which I also had on hand - using up my stash here) I created the following Christmas mini-album featuring the Zwiers Family happenings of Christmas 2009.

 Here are all the pieces I used in the before picture.

The finished album closed

 The finished album opened all the way up and tied together in the open position.

 All the inside pages are what come next. Christmas Eve sillies. A standard with this bunch!

 Opening presents on Christmas Eve. We just collected a whole bunch of silly favourites for each boy. Much of what was in the Candy Department of our local Dollar Store.

 Christmas poses. These two characters pose for the camera in the only way they know how! SILLY!

 Christmas is all about the food. Especially when you have three teenager boys. Our family tradition has been to have a Christmas Eve fondu. Easy, fun, and can take a while. Something we really look forward to.

 Christmas morning....waffles and a fresh coat of snow.

 Chores like the dishes also have to be done.

 Christmas games are a must. Old faithfuls like RISK are played alongside modern day gaming like HALO!

 The Zwiers family gets together at the Nemitz house to celebrate and eat even more! There is nothing finer for my boys! Maybe next Christmas I can convince them to go to Hawaii instead! LOL!

So that is what I did with my time today.  In the spirit of TIGHT Finances I did not purchase any new supplies to make this album. I had everything in the house. Gotta like that!

I am not sure if my creative spirit is satiated....so we will have to see what project I come up with next.

NOTE: most of the supplies are from the 2010 Three Bugs in A Rug Christmas kit. Other supplies used are from CTMH, American Crafts, and Hampton Arts (I don't know which manufacturer makes the glitter 2009 letter stickers).