How long is this going to take::

Today is my last official sewing day before the big day. WAHOO! This is the point where I am going, "Why do I enjoy this?" But, as soon as I sew up the last few bags I have cut out I'll remember that I really do love sewing and preparing for boutiques.

Although I am not setting up my booth until Friday morning, I have stuff going on every minute up until then. I am very excited about Wednesday night because I am taking a knitting class at Unwind. We are learning how to make socks on 4 double-point needles... YIKES! Seems pretty tricky and tedious, but I am excited to learn something new.

On Thursday is our 2nd Book Club meeting. We read the Count of Monte Cristo this month. What a humdinger! As I've mentioned here before, it is such a fabulous book. I wish I hadn't been so busy this month so I could have paid more attention to it. Last week I just plowed through the end to make sure I'd finish. I am going to encourage a quick, light read for our next choice. 600+ pages of intense revenge is about all I can handle. The book I am reading now is hard to get into. I might drop it. A book has to be pretty bad if I don't want to finish it. Maybe next week when I am not so side tracked by sewing and boutique blogging I'll be ready for it.

The above bags are some of the Market Bags I made for the boutique. I love how versatile the look is. They are all the same pattern, just tied up in different ways. Very cute. As much as I hope to sell them all, I wouldn't mind keeping the brown one with orange birds. I kept just enough of both fabrics just in case.

BOUTIQUE GIVE-A-WAY::

I'm giving away this bag.... go to the boutique blog to enter.
Kim is giving away a coupon, too. Wahoo, for double prizes!

Patchwork Totes::


I made a few of these patchwork totes for the boutique. I am spending the weekend sewing to finish up the last bits of everything. I'll be giving away one of these tote bags via the boutique blog (will be posted from Sunday - Wednesday), so hop on over and say hello.

Taking a sewing break::

Have you ever been over to Kristina Werner's blog before? I love her site. I don't know how I came across it, but I have been a loyal fan of her Make a Card Monday videos that she posts each week. Recently she started doing Color Challenges, challenging readers to make a card based on a photo she found. I decided I'd enter this time. I'm not much of a paper crafter, but I thought a sewing break was much needed.

So, here is my card::


Based on this color scheme::


The white looking paper really is the same color as linen. It is a light natural beige-ish color. I was also going to spell "Mother", but I was spelling backwards and got a bit mixed up with the "t" and "h", so I changed the word. I figured my sister is a mother, too. Jenny, this one is for you. Act surprised!!

I hope you win::


Thanks to all of you who entered the first contest on the boutique blog!!! I hope someone that I sent over there wins. Just a reminder, the winner will be announced later today and a new contest will be posted. YAHOO!

I had another late sewing night. I'm ready to go to bed by 9:00 each night after this baby is over. I'm getting really sleepy. I forget how much work getting ready for boutiques is. On top of sewing each day, I have a family to take care of, and a lot of work for Carone Fitness to do. I'm running on adrenalin and Diet DP. Are you sick of hearing about it yet?? Well, your invites are in the mail. If you don't think I have your street address, email me.

What a workout::


I was up late last night finishing this baby. I bought this pattern from Montessori by Hand last month. It really is a cute bag, but it gave my poor little machine a workout. I had to switch out my regular needle for a fatty-boomba-latty upholstery needle just to get through 10 layers of fabric and interfacing. SHEESH! Anyway, I'm pretty happy with it. I'm loving the pear and brown combination What do you think?

My friend, Lindsey, came over today and modeled all of my bags for me. Now I have pictures of almost everything I've got for the boutique. The winner of the earrings will be drawn tomorrow (Wednesday) so make sure you go enter. Also, another new contest starts tomorrow. I'll be giving away a tote bag next week along with a $5 coupon off anything on Kim's table.

::Why spend money on dietitians and Weight Watchers::

A conversation started the day off right as I treated myself to a bowl of Capt'n Crunch.

Cohen:: Mom, Capt'n Crunch is for little kids... not mommies.
Me:: Oh, mommies can have it, too, as a special treat.
Cohen:: No, Mom, you need to eat Mommy cereal.

Cohen walks to pantry and returns to me with a box of Special K Berries.

Cohen:: Here, you should eat this and I should eat Capt'n Crunch.
Me:: No, I think I'll eat Capt'n Crunch instead.
Cohen:: Okay... but you are not making the right choice.
Me:: Fine, I'll eat the Mommy Cereal.

FREE EARRINGS...

(photo and earrings by A Work in Progress)

All you have to do is go to the Art Inside blog and enter a comment by April 23rd. You'll automatically be entered to win a pair of earrings. You must be able to pick up the earrings in person on May 3rd between 10-4 at the boutique in Salt Lake. Check back to the blog regularly in the next 2 weeks. We'll be having more give aways and a few vendors will be posting coupons for booth discounts. WOWZER!! If you stop by, say hello. We want to know you were there.

Spring Colors...
I love the springtime colors that are starting to pop up everywhere. I'm so ready for winter to be over and can't wait until the warm weather will just stay. On Monday it was sunny 80 degrees (according to the bank sign across the road) and on Tuesday it was snowing and 39 degrees. Honestly, is this some kind of a weather gods joke?? This morning the sign says 49 and the lawn guys are out mowing so I think we'll take advantage of the good weather and go to the zoo.

I'm babysitting again... imagine that! I just can't say no. It is only one little (although he'd contest that he is little) 4 YO boy that is in our ward. He's a good kid and him and Cohen play well, so it really is ideal. I'll have him until the end of the school year (his mom is a teacher). I am able to get a lot of housework and reading (of course... I have a goal to reach) done.

While I am enjoying the mild weather and time outside, I am not enjoying the allergies. I've never had them like this before. Oh well... I guess we all have to take our turn sneezing and sniffling over something.

I can still sew...
This weekend I had a large chunk of time to sew. And sew I did! I made the entire batch of the "Go Green Market Bag" that is pictured below. This is such a fun pattern and it comes together fairly quickly. I was able to complete 7 of them in about 4 hours time.


This bag is very large, which makes it perfect for the grocery store, farmer's market, or even an overnight bag. If you choose to keep the ties open (with a cute bow tied in front) it measures 19"x18"x4" which enables you to stuff it full and still comfortably wear it over your arm.


I think it looks very cute tied closed (as pictured in the top photo). Each bag has a large pocket inside for keys, phones and wallets. This particular bag is made of a 55%/45% linen/cotton blend and is lined with a recycled linen (recycled: previously owned but washed to be good as new). The other market bags I've made are all from the same linen/cotton blend (in brown, green, yellow, pink, and natural), but have 100% cotton linings that are all brand new (and totally cute).

This bag, along with seven others, will be available for purchase at the boutique on May 3rd. I hope it is on your calendars!

Free Hugs!!!

This is my little brother Tim's idea of a good time. He's the one in the red jacket with a grizzly beard.

ONLY 4 MORE DAYS OF MADNESS!!!

Shall we have a party on Friday?

I've actually been able to accomplish more this week week than I thought I'd be able to. The kids I was watching (while their parents are in Europe) were all having sleepovers (read: pawned off on neighbors and other relatives) so Mike and I were home by 7:00 pm. Saturday I went to Ogden and had dinner with my mom and sister, Lyndsey. Sunday I watched Conference and had a nice dinner with the in-laws. I cut out a few bags for the boutique and even read 2 books. All is well.

I have not taken pictures lately, so I borrowed this one from my desktop. This is a picture taken by my bro-in-law Andy of Cohen and my nephew Aidan at the Auto Show in January. I believe it depicts what I will look on Thursday night after 4 days of 12+ hours babysitting 8 kids... only not so cute.

At least it is all calorie free...


This picture sums it up. I'm officially announcing that I have "bitten off more than I can chew" and "my plate is full." I don't know what to do about it except keep on chewing until my plate is empty. The things I enjoy most are being put on the back burner due to my over-committing issue. That means my blog... I am so sad.

I am gearing up for the Boutique on May 3rd, so mark your calendars. I have so much beautiful new linen and cotton and hope to share some photos along the way. In the meantime, check the Boutique blog and watch for new vendor spotlights and fun stuff each week. We hope to do a give away, too. If you want to be on the invitation mailing list, please email me at lori (dot) vanwagoner (at) gmail (dot) com in the next two weeks. Also, if you'd like to put a link for the boutique on your blog, we'd love the free advertisement. :)

I cannot wait for General Conference this week. It will be so wonderful to get away from Primary for a week and listen to our new prophet's voice. It is such a great time of year. Best of all... it usually gets warm after Spring Conference. Please sunshine... I NEED YOU RIGHT NOW!

If you want to see the partially completed craft room my sister, Jenny, and I worked on, head over to her blog. I look absolutely dashing in the photos. :P

I'm reading the Count of Monte Cristo for our book club. I LOVE IT! What an awesome story of revenge.... (MEOW-ZER! Want some nip for that cattitude?) It is great, though. At least my reading list is still growing. I've just completed #18 on my goal to read 50 books this year. YAHOO! This is another plug for GoodReads.com. I LOVE IT, too!!!

I must go mop my floor. I'm this excited about it! I love you all as much as books and crafting and sunshine. I hope you will hear from me soon.