We're having such a GREAT time...

So everyone's here... Sister-in-Law, 'Kiki', nephew 'Kea', Sister 'Cyn', Brother-in-Law 'G-O', nephews M, J, & niece AE. It is soooooooooooo wonderful!!!
The last few days in review...We are having such a great time!
~ Friday Family got to see BooBoo and SweetPea in school. The girls were so proud to show off their school.
We got home and immediately started getting ready for the Open house I had planned for my friends to meet my family. The open house was fun and it was really nice to see my sisters interact with all my family. Everyone here has been soooo supportive and praying for my family. It was wonderful to see them together and get to meet the people they've been praying for...

~ Saturday we had to get ready to help my wonderful friend get to the airport for her move to South Africa. Unfortunately her flight to London was canceled so we had figure how to get her back there... it was very stressful for her and therefore for me too. Then off to Orlando to the hotel to meet up with Mr Safety-Man, our girls, G-O, nieces, nephews, and S-i-L Kiki whom had traveled to the hotel earlier that afternoon!! Had a GREAT ride over with just my sis and me! It was really nice to get to spend some alone time together.

~ Sunday we got up EARLY and headed to Magic Kingdom in time for the opening of the park! It was FANTASTIC and everyone worked together so well to get there on time! We had a BLAST at the park! It was a bit cold and dreary but there were ABSOLUTELY NO LINES until at least 2ish. We couldn't believe it! It was (beware some cheesiness here...) MAGICAL to watch the kiddos who have never been to Disney experience it! I cannot even begin to portray how we all felt. It was definitely a spectacular day/evening. I will have to post some photos of our day. It was just WONDERFUL. I cannot say enough of this day.

~ Sunday eve me, my sister, & her family drove home while Mr Safety Man, Aunt Kiki, her son, and my girls stayed for another day to go to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

~ Monday we just totally CHILLED and hung out. It was great.

~ Tuesday we went to see the Manatees in the afternoon - it was AMAZING. There were EASILY 50 of them there!! And the boys REALLY got a lot out of learning about Florida's coasts and manatees. Then to Hungry Howies Buffet! (HEY! For 11 people... it was the easiest and quickest thing!) Mr Safety-Man and I got to go out that evening and finish some secret gift missions!!

~ Wednesday BooBooBear got to go with Aunt Kiki to the zoo with her cousin, while the rest of us went to the outlet mall to finish up some much needed shopping... gotta get those lists done!!!

~ And today Thursday - Sweetpea is going to the Science museum and iMax with her Aunt Kiki and cousin while we head over to Emerson Point to explore!

Every night - it's been rather late ones for me. We've watched movies, worked on projects, cleaned up, did laundry, and I try to finish presents that no one can see after everybody is asleep. I am trying desperately to finish all the handmade things I need to get done. I have to sew 2 things for 2 friends... I have 4 things to sew for my friend in Dallas. I have had to hand make 4 things for 'the sisters'. It's been rather crazy... all the while realizing I hadn't finished shopping for family afar and it's THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS! Hellllllloooo Kymmie...procrastinate much?! Or just plain forgetful!?

So more photos to follow... but the week at a glance!!!  It's been soooooo wonderful to have everyone here... I am really getting a lot out of my family here - it means more than I can ever say.

They're HERE! They're HERE!!!! They're HERE!!!!!!!

The day has finally come... we've been counting down the days since September... EVERYONE IS HERE for Christmas... well almost everyone. There are some that are missing and it will be hard.

The sisters have arrived!

Our families have ARRIVED!!!

They're HERE! They're HERE!!!! They're HERE!!!!!!!

The day has finally come... we've been counting down the days since September... EVERYONE IS HERE for Christmas... well almost everyone. There are some that are missing and it will be hard.

The sisters have arrived!

Our families have ARRIVED!!!

My S-i-L & her son - couldn't wait for his hug!

My nieces and nephews (my girls couldn't wait!!)

My family

My SISTER!!!!!! So strong, so wonderful, so special!!!

~~~~THEY ARE FINALLY HERE~~~~

PROUD & Locks of Love

proud  (proud)

adj. proud·er, proud·est

1. Feeling pleasurable satisfaction over an act, possession, quality, or relationship by which one measures one's stature or self-worth: proud of one's child; proud to serve one's country.

2. Occasioning or being a reason for pride

3. Feeling or showing justifiable self-respect.

4. Filled with or showing excessive self-esteem.

5. Of great dignity; honored: a proud name.

6. Majestic; magnificent: proud alpine peaks.

7. Spirited. Used of an animal: proud steeds.

 

I am so very excited for my daughter... I am so proud of her and she is proud of herself... and to me that means more than ANYTHING!!!  You see Sweetpea decided to grow out her hair... except she decided to grow it out - not for vain reasons but to donate it to such a WORTHY cause.... She decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love... and she did! Her appointment was at the end of November. She was excited and a bit nervous... but WOW what a cute "do" she has! 

Did you know that 80% of the donations of hair are from little girls to help other little girls!?! Can you believe that!!!?! I cried when I found this out...How truly remarkable.

I am proud of my Sweetpea. I am touched that she would do this for another person. She feels a great accomplishment... It's just a great time to have such a warm feeling... and so needed!!!

Before! Getting ready to go...

It's TIME!!!

"I get my hair washed too?!?!"

Brought one of her BFFs to give her moral support!

And HERE WE GOoooooooooo... snip snip snip

She's holding her hair! IT IS OFFICIAL!!!

WOW she is AMAZED about holding her own ponytail!!!

Now to start the "beautifying" process...

Add a bit of a fringe... (are you tired of these photos yet?)

Teaching her how to style her bangs (POOR Sweetpea has MY hair/hairline!

More styling and teaching...

Look at that dimple!!! SO SWEET! I don't know about her... but I LOVE IT!!!!

Checking it all out in the mirror! SHE LOVES IT!!!!

There's my baby!!!!! So beautiful!!

We love this little girl and what she did... so. very. much.

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling...

...like a clock... tick-tocking my time to get things done... T'is the Season everybody!

I am doing  it again... I am totally just stressing myself out and getting myself all worked up... but for good reason! I can tell myself that right?! My sweet sister and her family and my sister-in-law and her son are coming THIS coming THURSDAY (six days people). It will be a very busy and chaotic time all together - but I think it will be just what we all need. I want this to be as perfect as I can make it... with all our loss and people missing this season... however... I know deep in my heart nothing will erase the sadness. I just hope I can ease it a bit and just spread love and peace. I am very excited for my family to arrive.

And to add just a little bit of pressure... my sister's birthday is Friday (day after she arrives) and I have invited all my wonderful friends here to meet the sisters and their families in an Open House!!! OH I am a glutton for punishment aren't I? But I LOVE throwing little parties and I can finally do it... physically and mentally! It's been a LONG time since I have had one here!

There's so much to do... and I am slowly working on things... I just hope I can make the deadlines... I am really pushing things...but feel like i am on a sleigh to nowhere fast...

and I am so. very. tired.

Ta Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (only with photos of it COMPLETE on Boo!)

Oh my goodness... oh my goodness (quote from Annie)!!! I am really thrilled with how these beautiful ruffle pants for BooBooBear turned out! She tried them on (after I had to do some adjusting... they were a bit long for her...she's 8 and I made the size 10...) and I am just in love! Now don't get me wrong... there are mistakes... oh yeah MANY mistakes I had to fix... - but I learned with each one of them and hope to only get better!!!

I REALLY want a pair all to myself... I am RUFFLE CRAZY now!! (LOVE my ruffle foot for my sewing machine... truly I do - it's a match made in heaven!!!)!!!
OK without further ado... Here is Boo in her new owl... ruffle... Rosie Posie (by PinkFig - love her! Thank you so much Chelsea!) pants!!

Close up of the ruffles (excuse the cord - it was hard getting her off her PC game!)

THERE SHE IS! WOW looking STUNNING! (and the pants are so cute too!!)

Don't you just love how she poses for her Rosie Posie ruffle pant photo?

"Now a sitting photo Momma!"

 And there ya go...I am so happy with how they came out! I am very proud of myself! My first pair of pants ever!! But most of all... BooBooBear is happy as can be - and that is all that matters!!!

TA DAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

I finally finished... I wanted to get these pants done sooner... but the art show and cleaning and well... just life got in the way! But they are done now... I am so thrilled with how they turned out. I cannot wait to try them on BooBooBear... She will L. O. V. E., love them! I will had to do a few adjustments as they will be a bit long on her. The ruffles are just DARLIN'!! (If I do say so myself...)... Chelsea of PinkFig... you've outdone yourself on this pattern!!! Thank you for ALLLL your help!!!

I love them so much I want to make MY OWN pair!!!! I just have to find a pair of pants of mine that I can take apart and try to use!!!

Ok... here's how they look so far... I have to really get my super cute model to show you how they REALLY look... but for now... since I cannot wait... Take a look...

Working on the last (fourth) ruffle...

Almost done... 2nd leg...

Last seam...and...

TAaaaaaaaaaaaaa DAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Up close and personal... RUFFLES galore!!!

I am pretty darn proud of myself... not too shabby. (I won't tell you that there were a few things I would change on how I did them...) I am trying to get better about certain things... but I am getting there!

LOVED working on these pants... CANNOT wait to see lil' Boo in them!!! Will add photos of her in them tomorrow... I just couldn't wait to post...

Ooooo I want this quilt so badly...

One of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE pattern designers is Chelsea... from PINKFIG... I purchased her two shirt patterns (among a bunch of others) - and LOVED how easy they were to make... and let me tell you - I had basic knowledge from "Home Ec" and my mom and grandmother... but I needed a new creative outlet - some fun, funky - not the 70's version of patterns for my girls... AND BOOM! I fell in love with PINK FIG!!!

She has a lovely quilt that she is doing a Holiday giveaway on her blog... with her new line of fabric (which I SOOOO soooo sooo sooo soooo soooo need - even though I have so much fabric...). I am totally addicted to beautiful fabric and her line IS gorgeous!!! Check out this lovely quilt...

Look at that ADORABLE fabric!? HEAVENLY!

Ooooo I just want it so badly...I NEVERrrrrrrrrrr win these blog giveaways... but I am just really hoping and praying that this one will be won by yours truly... OH I CAN HOPE!!! It would be so nice to end this tragic year with something wonderful...

I have been working on my latest PinkFig pattern...The Rosie Posie Ruffle Pants... for my BooBooBear! I cannot wait till these are complete!! THEY ARE SO CUTE!

Check out Chelsea's blog (here) and her Holiday giveaway... but just remember... I NEED TO WIN!!!
Fingers and Toes crossed!!!

What's in a Name?

OK well it is incredibly hard to decide on a name... and no I am not pregnant... Though the Lord knows I truly wish I were pregnant. We are trying to decide on a name for our new online store (through Etsy). It's a start at least... would rather have my own store - but that will happen. Let me back up one click... Chris and I are opening our own online store. We will be selling our pottery items, my porcelain jewelry, textile items (clothing/accessories), and some of my crochet/knitted items.

We've written to our family & friends and asked their advice - and ALL suggestions were extremely great ones...

AND THE WINNER IS....
 

mArrineR's monTage

(see the ART in there?!)

...at least that is the decision at this moment. It has to be all one word (mArrineRsmonTage) right now for the username. But the banner will have it look a bit different. I just have to figure out how to make a pretty banner!! (Or hire a person to do one for me...)

It was EXTREMELY hard naming our store. We wanted to do something together - a joint venture. And I wanted Mr. Safety-Man to have a huge say in it - to feel a part of everything. Something to create some excitement in our family again. We wanted the name to represent something that was "combined" - our clay/pottery, my jewelry, textiles, crochet, knitting, and any other fun art/craft... but it's just not that easy.

We grappled with doing two shops...doing just my stuff and not his...but mostly just naming it!!! So now we are sticking with Marriner's Montage. I do like it... I wish I was much more creative. Kymmie's Kreations was a thought - but ehhhhh it just didn't hit me. Marriner's Mysteries, Marriner's Mishmash, Melange Marriner, Marriner's Masterpieces, Marriner's Crap, hehehhee Marriner's Mishmash, Ceramic Thread, Porcelain Thread, Marriner's designs, and last but not least Needleful Things or Needful Things were all contenders.

Well I hope it is a good name... I truly do! What's your opinion?

SLACKERrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Yep. I am identifying my state of mind with that word. I am associating how I feel with being a total slacker. I have not updated this in WAYyyyyyyy too long and so much has been going on... I have no excuse. The latest is - that I have a terrible cold that I just cannot fight. You think... Cold? Seriously? It's just a cold?! Well alas no. This cold has kicked my cute little bunsies (if I do say so myself) so hard - I can barely move!!  What started out as a slight tickle in the back of my throat last Thursday, continued to close up my throat (leading me to believe I had ingested the one and only thing I am allergic to - WALNUTS), and has ended up being a sore throat/head/chest cold. NOT a great mix...

So as I gather myself up from the dregs of the floor... I promise to get myself back up to updating - just as soon as I know my head is still attached to this poor body! It will be SOON. But even with a bad cold - we still had a rocking Halloween weekend!  It certainly was busy - but it was spent with wonderful friends and LOTS, and LOTS, and LOTS of candy!! =)

I leave you with a few projects I was working on before HALLOWEEN...

This was a really fun pennant to make with my girls!  S.P.O.O.K.Y!
The background/colors we used SCREAMED Halloween!

Isn't the Ghost border punch I have CA-UTE?!?
This made the whole pennant for me!

Another version...smaller space and one of the girl's Bats for decoration!

HAPPY FALL!!!!

hmmm sooo many to choose from...

Sweetpea rockin' her Grampa's hat! HOT day for a Fall Festival!!!

BooBooBear loved this small pun'kin! So sweet!

"It's SO sweeeeet!!!" Lookin' so little with my big girl!

"Too... Heavvvy.... can't.... lift...."

Snuggling(?!?!?!?) with her new pun'kin!!!

You spin me right 'round baby... like a record baby...

...but not in the way you'd think...

It's just the way I am feeling lately! SOoooooo many projects, so much of a messy house, so many activities, so much on my mind, so overwhelmed. I feel like a crazy record (yes I am dating myself here by not saying CD) that is on a continuous loop because it's scratched! But as I am spinning out of control - I also like to think that I truly AM accomplishing things. It will just take awhile. What's that saying? "It has to get worse before it gets better..." - hmmmm I think they say that with me as their example. Whoever they are!?

OK... the last few days in review... via photos (wish me luck... I've been procrastinating uploading):

Crocheted a pun'kin hat for the sweetest 2 yr old!

Made an antique doorknob hook (w/my g-ma's knobs) for my aprons

the 'Great Sorting of Chris' mom's fabric (w/help from my pups)

New FABRIC for aprons to sell!

Working with my lil' company FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Finished Pun'kin hat!

1 apron done for festival/Art show i am in in Nov.

2nd apron for festival/to display at Art show

At Terra Ceia festival selling my handmade bird domes with helper Boo (in tree)

Made Sweetpea her giraffe blankie

Finally some family time! HOLE IN 1! YAH BABEEeee

love my girls

utter concentration

Chris' happy dance (hole in 1 grrrr)

Another hole in 1 & I WON FOR FIRST TIME EVER!!!

lettin' lizard go

A fine porcelain pendant i made

Another fine porcelain pendant i made

I made Christmas prezzies for teachers

 

Playin with my new RUFFLER foot! SO STOKED!

Apron hook COMPLETE!! How'd i do?

The "Great Fabric Sorting" just about complete!

Baking w/ my girls (wearing aprons I made for them)!

Cleaned off top shelves (more throwing away) and fabric's new home

Mending clothes (new buttonholes)

Mending

too tight sleeves...

Mended! YES! More use out of it now!

So much to still do... I am...

EXHAUSTED!!!