Smile in My Pocket

Week 2 Crafty Sewing Mama's Sewalong - Complete!

2011-02-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

I was finally able to come up with an idea for the sewalong challenge! Two of them actually.

I had some scrap Valentine's day-esque fabric so I decided to make a key ring. It came out OK, although I think I probably needed a bigger D-ring.

Then I saw a tutorial on making cards by sewing on them. SO EXCITING! So I made this. I had two pieces of card stock. I sewed a heart onto one of them and then sewed them together to create the card. Love it!

Thank you for looking!

A Day for Hearts

2011-02-10T15:02:00.000-05:00

Monday, February 14th is A Day for Hearts,

a day to help promote awareness about Congenital Heart Defects.

To most people February 14th was just Valentine's day. Until my youngest son was born on July 4th, 2008 I was one of those, and then it all changed.

Less than a week after my son, Sean, was born we found out that he had a hole in his heart. By the time he was two weeks old he had been to the ER, had seen a cardiologist twice and was now on medication to help keep him alive. He had a type of defect known as Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). Most of these holes do close on their own. Unfortunately Sean's was too large to do so. On January 14, 2009 my six month old son had open-heart surgery to repair the hole. Sean may never have a 'normal' heart, but he is alive and living quite an active life.

Unfortunately, for many children this is not the story. 1 in 100 children in the US are born every year with a Congenital Heart Defect, where autism affects 1 in 110 children and cancer is diagnosed 2 in every 1000 children a year. Yet we hear nothing about Congenital Heart Defects.

February 14, 2009 was my first "Day for Hearts". I would love for you to help show your support and spread awareness about Congenital Heart Defects. Let February 14, 2011 be your first "Day for Hearts".

How can you help?

Tell others - friends, family, everyone - about "A Day for Hearts"

Here are some websites to learn more about "A Day for Hearts" as well as more about Congenital Heart Defects.

http://tchin.org/aware/

http://www.chdinfo.com/chdaware/index2.htm

Sean, Dec. 2010

Thank you for your support!

Week 2 Crafty Sewing Mamas' Sew-along: Suggestions Needed!

2011-02-07T20:20:00.000-05:00

We are now in Week 2 of the Crafty Sewing Mamas' Sew-along. Our project this week is to make something for Valentine's day or a pair of PJ pants. I am leaning more towards doing something for Valentine's day, but I need some suggestions please!!

Some ideas that I came up with, but am not sure on yet are:
-Handmade Valentine cards (scraps of fabric sewn on cardstock)
-Heart pillows
-Valentine's day shirts for my boys

Ok, that's a short list. What do you think I should make?

Thanks in Advance!

Week 1 Crafty Sewing Mama's Sewalong - Complete!

2011-02-03T21:05:00.000-05:00

I was finally able to sit down and make my crochet hook case for the Crafty Sewing Mamas' Sewalong! I was originally going to make THIS type of case. But in the mail today I received a fabric order, including a scrap grab bag from The Quilt Shoppe. In my bag of scraps was this most BEAUTIFUL fabric that I just had to use. So I made this instead.

Outside

Inside

And it's all for me! I love being able to make stuff for me! Check out all of the finished projects at our Linky Party!

Look What I Won!!!

2011-02-02T15:14:00.000-05:00

Ohmygosh! I can't tell you how excited I am to have won THIS!

I can't wait to get it in the mail!! Many, many thanks to Sew, Mama, Sew!

I'm not going to know what bag to make first....decisions, decisions.

Great Organization Giveaway from A bowl full of lemons blog!

2011-02-02T12:02:00.000-05:00

Look at this amazing bag! I could do so many things with it!

And drool! I would love to have something like this for all of my grocery shopping!

Enter here to Win!!!

Pick your pattern from these great Spring choices to make it just the way you want it

Then stop on over and take a look at the incredible catalog to show you all the things you can do to make your life more organized and look so classy while doing it.

at Thirty-One

Crafty Sewing Mama's Sewalong

2011-02-01T20:27:00.000-05:00

Woo hoo! Back to blogging! I know, I do that a lot...leave, come back, leave, come back. My blog and I have a torrid love affair going on here. But alas, I am back.

AND I am back because I am taking part of a Sewalong! A group of people from an online board from Babycenter has decided to create a Sewalong. I am SO excited to be a part of it!

YAY! We even have our own logo! It was created by Cheryl of Cheryl's Creative Crafts.

Our first task is to create either a sewn crochet case or a sewing machine cover. I am going with the crochet case as my sewing machine has a nifty hard case cover already. I just have to pick the perfect fabric and pattern...I did already make one a week ago for a friend's daughter. I'll post that picture for now. But I still plan on making one for me!

Happy Sewing!

I LOVE giveaways! Can you tell?

2010-11-24T11:09:00.000-05:00

Here is yet ANOTHER giveaway! This time it's for a quilt. Not just any quilt, but a BEAUTIFUL quilt!! From Chelsea at Pink Fig Designs.

You can check out her blog by clicking this button:

And just look at this beautiful quilt!

Ohmygosh! I think I'm drooling!

Please check out her awesome blog and even more awesome giveaway! But if you win you have to share ;)

So many giveaways, so little time!

2010-11-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

I LOVE this time of year! It's when all of my favorite blogs do such awesome giveaways! I have listed some of them below. :)

The Idea Room is giving away a Silouette machine!

How Does She is also giving away a Silhouette machine! (I want one so bad!)

Yet another giveaway featuring a Silhouette machine from Infarrantly Creative!

A great giveway from Grosgrain...and yes, you guessed it, for a Silhouette machine!
Silhouette Machine Giveaway

I think everyone is giving away the Silhouette machine! This one is from Thrifty Decor Chick!

Happy Entering!

2010-09-19T20:32:00.000-04:00

So, I decided to make a confession. I have not been able to find my camera cord for a few months now. ACK! I have SO many pictures on my camera that I want to post but I can't! And I don't really want to go out and buy a new one because I KNOW the old one is in the house somewhere. Grr...

In other news, Sean is in a big boy bed for the first time tonight! So far so good! And no, I can't post a picture...because I can't upload it. But for pictures' sake, I will post one from when Sean was an itty bitty. I LOVE this picture. Maybe one day I'll post the story behind it, lol.

I can't believe my baby is 2!

That's all for now. Hopefully I can find the camera card and get some real posts up here. I have so many different projects that I want to blog about!!

Watch out, I kick!

2010-09-15T21:57:00.000-04:00

Can I just say that I LOVE kickboxing! It is such a fun time and an awesome workout. I haven't been in quite some time due to work issues with my husband (he works too late). But my friend Becky (who I go with to kickboxing)had her oldest son come watch my boys.

I am SO thankful! I haven't worked out in over a week and was really getting antsy. If you have ever considered taking it, but haven't, I say DO IT! But watch out for my ninja like skills! I have a lethal kick!

Losing weight is not good for the wallet

2010-09-14T20:41:00.000-04:00

I have lost quite a bit of weight since February. I am almost down 30lbs (those last 2 lbs are being VERY stubborn). But with weight loss, comes clothing...loss? I have shrunk out of pretty much most of my clothes. Yay! But also Boo! Yay because, well, it's a good thing! Boo because I don't have a lot of clothes that fit me anymore. The clothes that I have (had) that are the size I am now are from when I was in college. They are outdated and way to 'young' compared to how I dress now. I can't really wear a low-cut sparkly Superman t-shirt to work.

So now I need new clothes. Problem...clothes cost money, lots of money. That's something I don't have a lot of...money AND clothes that fit. I have decided that I am going to try to refashion some of my old clothes so that I can wear them again. Last night I took a pair of shorts and made them into this really cute shirt. It was simple really. I used this tutorial from Crafty Pirate as a guide. But didn't add the ruffles.

(Check out her blog by clicking on the button above, she's pretty awesome!)

So I'm sitting here trying to think of what I can do with this dress. (don't mind the roundness...I was pregnant with my youngest)

Maybe I can make a top out of the bottom part...hmm....decisions, decisions :) Any suggestions are welcome!

Yes, another great giveaway!! :)

2010-09-12T19:46:00.000-04:00

There have been a lot of awesome giveaways out there lately. And this one is just as great!!!

Happily Domestic was able to review an electric yogurt maker from Cuisipro!

Click the button below to visit Happily Domestic and enter the giveawy! :)

PS: You're welcome, lol.

I'm a sucker for GREAT Giveaways!

2010-09-09T20:54:00.000-04:00

I love giveaways! Even more, I'm a sucker for GREAT giveaways. Check out these awesome giveaways! Come on, you know you want to enter them too! :)

Go to Craftaholics Anonymous by clicking the button above. She has a great giveaway from My Gypsy Cottage, an adorable shop on Etsy. I highly recommend that you check out both.

Ucreat has another awesome giveaway! They are featuring The Freckled Flower Shop. The jewelry there is AWESOME! Go to Ucreate by clicking the button above.

Good luck to all! (Don't forget to share!!!)

Because I don't have enough to do :)

2010-09-08T21:50:00.000-04:00

I was perusing craigslist tonight, as I always do, looking for something to catch my eye. Then I saw this!

Isn't it beautiful! (The window, not the flower) This guy has 14 of them for sale for just $5 each. I am purchasing 2 of them. What am I going to do with them? I'm so glad you asked! I am going to make something like this!

Well, obviously not exactly like that because the windows are different. I'm so excited! I am thinking about putting nice paper in the window part maybe...or maybe pictures of us or the boys. I can't wait to get started. :)

Romeo the....goof.

2010-09-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

My husband is such a goof. Monday night he decided to clean out the pantry and fridge. He does this every few months go get rid of expired food and make room for the astronomical amount of Gatorade and Snapple that he buys. I guess he was really bored and decided to make it more entertaining for himself. He started talking with a Latino accent. No, he was not talking to me....he was talking to the food. Yep, he was discussing with the food what their fate was (trash or stay). I love my goofball.

Friendship, dissected

2010-09-07T06:00:00.002-04:00

So I have (or should I say had) this friend. We'll call her Mabel*. Mabel and I became friends in college. Sometimes I think it was out of necessity, but alas, we were friends. I was there for her through thick and thin, she was there for me through...well, some thick and thin. (Get where I'm going with this). Anywho, I got married and had kids and my priorities changed. She did not, and her's did not. So we grew apart. Stuff happens. You don't always have the same friends. Friends come and go, yadda yadda. Long story short (because it's a super long story and would take me days to write) Mable decided that it was my fault and that we were no longer friends. She informed me of this via good ole Facebook. Nothing like a break-up on facebook, right? Then she promptly deleted me...and my sister...and my mom. What?! Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Anywho, when one door closes, another opens, right? In steps Amy (and yes, that is her real name). Amy and I were friends all through school, up until 11th grade that is. Then something stupid happened and we were dramatic and immature and stopped talking. Believe me, it was stupid. We both agree on that part. BUT (getting to the door opening part) she contacted me via Facebook. Yep, Facebook can tear you apart or bring you together. We actually hung out on Saturday and it was like nothing had changed. Those 11 years that we didn't talk seemed like barely a week. Yes, a lot had happened and we did fill each other in on the details. But we started right where we left off (minus the stupid argument from 11th grade). It was awesome!

I am glad we got back in touch. She came back into my life right when I needed it. We have both definitely matured and I'm sure we won't be deleting each other on Facebook over stupid little things anytime soon. :) Happy day.

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent, or those who *think* they are innocent

Awesome Giveaway!

2010-09-06T11:15:00.006-04:00

Check out this awesome giveaway from Crataholics Anonymous blog!

They are giving away a custom portrait from Modern Bird Studios. What is Modern Bird Studios you ask?

Check them out HERE!

The hard part is going to be deciding what picture to use if I win! ;)

Um...so it's been a while?

2010-09-05T22:34:00.001-04:00

Yeah, so, I guess I haven't blogged in a while. Oops. Well, there's been a lot going on. For starters, I lost almost 30 lbs! Woot Woot! Here are a before and after picture.

And After

Second...I started running, a lot. Hence the weight loss I suppose. I ran a 5k back in June and actually have two more that I am signed up for. One is in October and then I am doing the Free to Breathe 5k in November. The Free to Breathe run is for Lung Cancer Research and Awareness. I am raising money for the race. If you would like to help by donate, please click the link below. :)

Free To Breathe

Other than that I have been doing a lot of sewing. I have made dresses for me, bags for me and my sisters among others. I just made a lunch bag for myself using a jellyroll from Moda. I love it!!

So that is it really. It's been a busy year. BUT I am hoping to get back into blogging. Thanks for reading!!!

Love is all you need.....

2010-01-13T21:01:00.001-05:00

I think this video says it all :)

LOVE

A New Blog to Love!

2010-01-02T16:07:00.001-05:00

I stumbled upon a new (to me) blog today called My Mama Made It. The first post I saw was for a giveaway for an amazing cape that had me mesmerized. I would definitely love to be the winner of that giveaway! I would say to go enter the giveaway...but I want it all to myself. ;)

(Picture copyright of Alexis of My Mama Made It)

Isn't this cape AMAZING! :drool:

I highly recommend that you stop on over and check out the giveaway and all the blog has to offer! :)

Awesome site filled with Awesome craft ideas!

2009-11-26T10:16:00.000-05:00

I LOVE this site! I can always find amazing craft ideas from SO many different bloggers all in one spot!

Definitely check it out! Just click on the picture!

Promotions and Dinosaurs

2009-11-01T19:33:00.001-05:00

Busy Busy! That's how I describe the last few weeks. There has been SO much going on!

I got a promotion at work and am now one of the coordinators for our Teenage Parenting Program. Go me! So far I am happy with how the program is going, it's just a lot of work right now.

We went trick or treating last night. The boys' costumes were a hit! Jacob was a dinosaur and Sean was a hatching dinosaur egg. :) I made them myself, and am so happy with how they turned out. Here are a few pictures from our fun night.

Sean is growling at Jacob. :)

My favorite picture of all my boys <3

After we were done trick or treating, handing out candy with Daddy :)

It was quite a successful night I must say. Lots of candy for me, I mean them, to eat. ;)

Mini Vacation!

2009-09-25T08:06:00.000-04:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAND we're OFF! To Gettysburg that is. I can not wait! The four of us are going away for the weekend with 3 other families. We rented 2 cabins at a campground in Gettysburg.

This should be fun! Look for pictures to come sometime next week. :)

Monster Fluff Studio!

2009-09-18T11:10:00.000-04:00

There's another giveaway on a blog I follow! They make the CUTEST fleece soakers and have the most ADORABLE little monsters!

Meet Archie! He's my favorite! :)

(picture is from Monster Fluff Studio Blog)

Monster Fluff Studio blog

Monster Fluff STudio is stocking today AND they are having a blog contest- you definitely do not want to miss this one!

Make it and love it giveaway!!

2009-09-17T18:36:00.000-04:00

Make It and Love It blog is gives away some AWESOME stuff! Right now they are giving away a $20 gift certificate to Stitcheroos. Check out the giveaway HERE!

Check out Stitcheroos HERE, HERE and of course HERE!

Wardrobe Refashion

2009-09-03T15:17:00.002-04:00

I did it, I took the plunge...I mean pledge! I have pledged that for the next 2 months I will not buy any new clothes and instead will refashion the clothes I do have into something I can wear. Maybe I will get started tonight...riiiight, lol. If you are interested in more info, check out the 'button below!

The Pledge

I, Erin Cummings, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed Erin Cummings....

Getting crafty

2009-08-22T18:32:00.004-04:00

I have a birthday party to go to next month for a 2 year old little girl. I LOVE to make stuff for little girls. There are just so many more options out there. So, without further delay, here are the creations that I have made. :)

And a close up of the appliques. They are called reverse appliques and an easy tutorial on how to do them can be found HERE

The yellow splotch on the back is actually a small yellow butterfly. :) Thanks for looking!

Been away for a while

2009-08-16T09:18:00.002-04:00

So I kind of neglected the blog for a while. Oops. We've had a busy summer. We did a lot of fruit picking the beginning of the summer.

I made a lot of fun desserts with all the fruit we picked. Yummm!

Sean had his first birthday and it was a blast! We had an open house with a lot of awesome guests.

Other than that we've been playing and having lots of fun!

Things we are looking forward to:

Finally starting my masters at Widener University
School starting up (yes, I'm looking forward to going back to work...)
Going to Gettysburg at the end of September
Going to Orlando (and Sea World!) at the end of December
Fall (my favorite season!)

Diaper Discussions!

2009-08-16T09:12:00.001-04:00

Elephant Doodles on Etsy!

2009-06-13T10:23:00.000-04:00

My store on Etsy is now open!!! Check it out please!! Just click on one of the pictures below to be taken to it. :-)

Thanks in advance!

Etsy
Buy Handmade
elephantd

Sewing, sewing, and then some

2009-06-05T18:56:00.002-04:00

I have my first craft fair this weekend. I am excited. I have been doing a lo of sewing to get ready for it. I am going to sell baby legwarmers, crayon rolls and tutus. So far so good! I can't wait!I am going to be super busy tonight and tomorrow to get ready for it though.

Another funny Jacobism....I was sitting on the floor and my shirt came up in the back. He was looking at my tattoo and said "I like your new butt Mommy! It's pretty!".....

Wrapaweens and meltdowns

2009-05-26T10:36:00.004-04:00

Jacob is at such a cute yet aggravating age. He has these moments where he is the sweetest boy in the world and I am in complete awe of him. Like yesterday, he was carrying around a stuffed animal and treating it like a baby. He was rocking it to sleep, singing to it and tucked it into bed so it could take a nap. Or today he was telling me about how he was reading his "wrapaween" (which I later figured out meant 'magazine'.) I love the made up words... And then there are the "I know I'm not allowed to do this but will do it anyway when Mom's not looking" moments that just drive me up a wall. He is still trying to figure out how I will actually drive the car up the wall...yep, sometimes the sweet moments are aggravating too....oh Jacob.

My baby is 3 today!

2009-05-12T22:03:00.010-04:00

It goes by way too fast. I was looking through some old pictures, reminiscing about the past three years. He is such an adorable little boy and growing up to be such an amazing big boy. Although, if you ask him, he says he's not big enough yet. Not sure what he's not big enough for, but he still seems big to me. :) I love him. :*

I thought I'd share Jacob through the years :)

They make me happy

2009-05-09T15:12:00.002-04:00

From the mouth of babes...

2009-05-06T20:02:00.001-04:00

"Mommy, I can poop outside like Maggie. I go poop on the grass." said Jacob as he started taking off his diaper while trying to open the side door.

Chewy chocolate chip cookies

2009-05-04T21:39:00.005-04:00

So I'm in Harrisburg for PSSA testing. Not too bad really. Work pays for my hotel and food. I actually get to sleep a full night tonight. I'm looking forward to that one. I like the people I'm traveling with too. Fun people. Hopefully testing goes well tomorrow and I can be home at a decent time.

Night time is boring though. I'm all by myself in a hotel room. I did talk to Jacob earlier. He told me that my room was upstairs and I had to sleep in my bed. I can't wait to see my boys tomorrow!

And what makes it all that much better....the chewy chocolate chip cookies the hotel has in the lobby......mmmmm.....soooooo good.

Welcome to My World

2009-05-03T22:29:00.003-04:00

As my first blog post I would like to welcome you to my world. I am a mama to 2 amazing little boys and wife to my own personal hero. I have a dog named Maggie who drives me nuts. I live in Pennsylvania where my husband and I recently bought our first house. I work at a cyber charter school in special education. I have amazing friends who complete my world.

This is me!