joy

 

 

 

 

 

Another pic. A little blurry but I like it.

 

I have a tutorial in the works. Here is a sneak peek...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My "new to me" camera!

 

 

 

 

For a while now I have been wanting a DSLR Camera but haven't been able to spend that much on one. Well a friend from college posted her camera for sale on Facebook for a great price so I decided to go for it! I am sooo glad I did. I can't wait to take some good pictures of my kids! Bye, bye, grainy pictures.

 

The camera I got is a used D200 Nikon that is in great shape. She didn't sell the lense with it, which I am glad because I probably would not have gotten this great 50mm lense. My nieghbor friend across the street recommended it.

The very first picture, of the Anthropologie jar, was on auto with the 50mm lense and did not need editing. This before and after picture was taken on auto with the 50mm lense and then edited in Photoshop Elements. In Photoshop Elements I first went to Enhance then to Auto Smart Fix. That did not do enough, so I went to Enhance, Adjust Lighting and then to Brightness/Contrast and adjusted the brightness to what I wanted.

I have so much more to learn about digital SLR photography. I don't even know if I am using the right language. About 10 years ago, back when you had to use film, I was really into photography (almost went to college for it) but I let it slip to the side. I am excited to get back into it!

I haven't posted in a while! I saw this the other day and wanted to share!

Ni Hao Y'all is raising money to go directly to helping orphans in China, check it out!

  ://nihaoya         Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and pray that we remember that Christmas is about Jesus and His birth!    

Harper Lila

Harper is here! We had our beautiful little redhead on St. Patrick's day and she is wonderful.

With the amazing support of my husband we had her at a birthing center with midwives and had a wonderful experience. I labored at home for about six hours, timing contrations and wondering when to go into the birthing center. Sometime after 9am my parents got to our house to watch Brandon and we got in the car to go. When we got there we were surprised to find out I was already 9 cm dilated. We had just enough time to get settled in and it was time to have her. I was able to hold her right away in a comfortable, beautiful and easy paced environment. We were able to bond as a family of four as we studied our new little family member in our arms. Praise and glory to God above! Thank you Lord for answering our prayers.


Harper Lila
9 lbs 9 oz
21.5 in
Born at 10:49am
March 17, 2012

Getting checked and dressed by the midwife.



Cloth Diapers!

So you may be more of a disposable diaper kind of person, most are, but you would be surprised at the cloth diapering community out there! I like disposable diapers but I want to cloth diaper too. Within the cloth diapering world there is a whole nother community that loves to make their own cloth diapers. And in online forums, they say once you make one you it becomes a hobby and I can now see why. There is a great sense of accomplishment when you finish one and it actually looks functional! I've been studying up on all the different cloth diapers out there and the different materials you can use. I don't have anything against disposable diapers and will still be using them at least part-time but can you think of the money and landfill waste you save by using cloth. And it is really rewarding to use your sewing skills to help out around the house.

So I've made a couple of newborn AI2 diapers and am looking forward to making more cloth diapers!

Aren't they cute?

The last picture is comparing them to a huggies newborn diaper. I still need to make the diaper inserts for these, so much to learn out there, I hope these work!

I used the Baa Baa Baby Free Newborn pattern to make these.

 

Baby Kimono Pattern from Craft Hope

Source: dana-made-it.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: larkcrafts.com via Mandy on Pinterest

I've posted a lot of things I would like to make to pinterest and this baby kimono is one of them (found on Made blog) and yesterday I made one for baby girl. It turned out really cute. For some reason it took me all day to make. I decided to add binding to the top and had to redo it and I was also having serger issues but I finished it, yay! As far as I know they just give the pattern and not the instructions to sew it, so I just figured it out as I went.

I remember not liking the baby gowns with the elastic on the bottom when Brandon was a baby so I opted to make the envelope style, and I didn't want to mess with putting in elastic even though the gathering is so cute.

Thank you Craft Hope for the pattern!  I would love to check out their whole Craft Hope book sometime, great craft ideas for a cause!

Printed off free pattern and taped together all the pages (lots!) and then cut them out.

Then pinned the pattern to fabric and cut out all the pieces. I used 2 yards of fabric I found at Hancock Fabrics for $3.95 per yard and had a little left over.

Then sewed it all together with an added fabric binding to the neckline. I like how it turned out and am looking forward to seeing it on baby!

Nursery Inspiration

Source: 100layercake.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: cartersgroundswell.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: snippetandink.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: thelaytonlovestory.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

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Some nursery inspiration for baby girl's room.

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 Did I mention we are having a girl?

I'm so excited to meet her soon!

I'm about 31 weeks and in full nesting mode.