Indispensable

Today I thought that I would introduce you to one of, if not the, most used tools in my sewing arsenal. Gingher Knife Edge Thread Snips.  Even the name sounds fantastic, right? My mother gave these to me after I began sewing regularly last year. I had hinted to her that I loved them, asked where she got them, etc., and she was kind enough to let me have them for my own. These little clippers are razor sharp (as the name implies), and after a bit of awkward practice, they fit into your hand as you work, making quick work of clipping threads, notching seams, clipping curves, whatever! I am almost never without these little babies! I was thrilled to discover that you can still buy them at several places online (thrilled for you, of course... I'm keeping mine!) including here.

So what is your favorite thing in your craft room? Do you have one tool you couldn't live/work without?

Friday Love~ Remember when this was fun?

I am so excited that the weekend is here! The cupcake baking is almost finished, other party foods are in the fridge, and my in-laws are on their way... this all adds up to a super-duper weekend for my birthday boy!

Happy Fine Art Print by Ginger Lee Photography

My Scoutie Girl 'homework' for the blog this week is to write about how I fell in love with creating. I have been chewing on this one since Monday and have been having a hard time putting into words. Then, as I was working on Rem's birthday banner last night it kind of came to me: I'm not so in love with creating at the moment. It sort of took me by surprise because I have had such a great week making things for the party. And that's the point! When I first started this blog it didn't have an agenda. I was living life, making with my kids and taking pictures. This journal just followed and has grown to bigger than I thought it would be. And I do love that! I love getting your emails and comments. I love the conversation around the web with my 'bloggy' friends. And I love the community~ y'all have made some hard times bearable and this outlet keeps me sane (sometimes).

So what I am thinking is that it's the pressure I put on myself that takes the life out of this. I love creating something with my two hands. I have loved it since before I can remember, I think it's just part of how God made me. But I so love my family and that is also in my makeup. I look at the Proverbs 31 woman and see who she is, and I strive to be like her. And what that translates into for me right now is doing less. Less goal setting. Less pressure for more inventory. Less advertising. Less fears that I might not be the Next Big Thing.

I want to love this life. I want to be more. I want to breath in everything that God has placed in front of me to enjoy. I want to make more with my kids. I want to make more inspired things out of joy, not some self-imposed goal. This life is too precious.

Thanks for listening to my rant. I think what this translates to is that much won't change around here, but I will. I still plan on keeping my shop. I love that little spot! But what you may see is different kinds of inventory because I really want to allow myself the freedom to create whatever it is that's in my heart & head.

Happy Friday, lovelies! I am loving this life. Right here. Today. I hope you have a weekend filled with the people and things that you love!

Checked Off the List

Please pardon the excitement, as I'm posting twice today... I just had two completely different trains taking off from the station at once and needed to get them down separately.

I am a dreamer. I have a hard time setting goals and keeping them because the day-dreamer in me keeps dreaming up newer and more exciting things. With the new year I made a pretty lofty list of things that I wanted to do this year, especially where 2 sweet things is concerned. The biggest of these goals is that I want to release an actual line of girls clothing with several key and coordinating pieces that work together. I have been buried in sketches and fabric swatches and with the arrival of some delicious fabric last week, things are starting to take shape. I joke to Trace that every time I make something new I squeal that 'This is the cutest thing Ever!' The greatest thing is that it's usually true! (Don't I just say so myself!?) I have really been working on the tiniest details of each piece and am finding that some wonderful things are emerging from beneath my needle. Ruffles, appliques, balloon hems, and funky prints galore~ oh my! I am hoping to get some great photographs taken and be able to list the new items on February 15th, just past the Valentine's rush. Here are a few pictures of some things to come:

So I'm still a dreamer, just a bit more conscious about having my feet hit the ground every now and then. I am finding that it's much more satisfying to dream big dreams when some of them start to take shape in the real world as opposed to just in my head.

Another thing on my list is to potentially add advertising here on my lovely blog. I have had several inquiries about doing this, and I am exploring what ways would best serve y'all, my lovely readers, and advertisers. 'Would love to know your thoughts on this!

Happy Wednesday, lovelies! Oh, by the way, there's still time to order some sweet things for you little Valentine from my shop!

Storms that Shape Us

Eye of the Storm fine art print, courtesy of bewellc8 on Etsy

I told y'all last week that our small group is discussing the writing in Matthew 14 about Jesus walking on the water. As I was studying this week, I found the phrase 'Storms Shape Us!' scribbled in my own hand in the margin of my Bible. As I thought more about this, I realized how true this is. The things in my life, most notably the dramatic and emotionally exhausting things, are the ones that looking back have made the most profound impact on my life and faith.

Among those 'storms' that I have had to wade through, the biggest obstacle to my being 'successful' is myself. Is it strange that I am my own worst enemy? This isn't new to those of you who have been reading for a while... I have had many conversations with myself as I have been writing this blog, creating, and forging my way through motherhood. The voice inside myself often works against that of God, telling me of my constant inadequacies and the lie that nothing I do will ever be good enough. So on a daily basis, I have to tell that voice to just stop, and I force myself to be quiet long enough to hear the still, small voice of the One True God. And He doesn't lie.

I love in the account in Matthew 14 that Jesus doesn't calm the storm before he tells Peter to come onto the water. It isn't until He climbs into the boat that the wind dies down. This is such a beautiful portrait of a relationship with Him. There will be storms. I can't tell you anything but that fact because it's true. But He will always hold out his hand and say 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' (verse 27). The Master Potter allows us to be shaped by the storm, all the while holding our hand as it gets scary.

So what are the storms that have shaped you? There is nothing in this life, my lovely friends, that will cause Him to abandon you.

It's in the Details

Ruffle Bib on the dress front

This week's 'assignment' in the 52 Weeks is all about the first stages of a new product. And while I don't really have a new product on the table, I am just finishing one and I thought I would let y'all see it. When I began sewing last year after, oh, 15 years since Home Ec. classes, the thing that rang in my mind was my mom telling me years ago that the back of a piece was as important as the front. I remember her telling me that her mom would immediately flip over a project and inspect how neatly she had sewn, tied in the ends, etc. When I began creating to sell, I knew that I wanted the insides of each item to be just as lovely as the outside. So I learned everything I could about the 'bones' of sewing. I read manuals, and I practiced.  I mastered french seaming and hand-finishing. (Okay, maybe 'mastered' isn't quite true, but I do pretty well!)

French seam and care tag

I want you to know what goes into each and every 2 sweet things item. I spend tons of time drawing patterns, finishing each seam, sewing in labels... all because I want each piece to be a work of art from the inside out!

Sewn-in label

Bias trimmed armhole

Tie back of dress

Dress back, wrong-side out

Finished dress! Size 3T/4T This will be in the shop soon!

For Such a Time As This

Esther 4:14 "...And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

So I am really trying to hone in on why I do this~ my mission. And I'm having a hard time, but the bottom line is that I truly believe at this time in my life God has called me to be here, in this 'space', doing what I love because he has given it to me because I am 'Any Mom'.

I started this blog with the subtitle "a journal of our days, the ones we love, and the things we make", and I still think that is what this blog is. My hope is that as it grows and changes it will become a place where any mom can find inspiration, whether that is drawn from a certain scripture which will grow her closer to the Creator, or something creative that will bring into light God-given interests and abilities. 2 sweet things blog (and shop, for that matter!) is the place where I connect God, art & inspiration, and I hope that 'Any Mom' will find that here too.

That kind of sums up where I'm at today. I definitely think in the next days & weeks I will be able to clarify a bit more, but it's a start, right!?

Oh, and I guess I'll throw in a little Friday Love while I'm here. Though, truthfully I didn't even know it was Friday until the guy at the bank said something! Today I'm loving:

~ That our family seems to be in the clear from the nasty rotavirus. Neither little one is eating quite like themselves just yet, but they are getting past it, and for that I am deeply thankful!

~That my 'studio' is coming together. I can't wait to get everything into place and give y'all a little tour. It is so nice to be able to spread out and not have to shuffle everything off the dining room table each day!

~That we have an awesome new church family. I mentioned that we arrived to a team of people who helped get everything ready and unload the truck, but it has extended to so much more than that, and we have just been blown away by their kindness.

That's really just the tip of the iceburg, but I have a few custom orders that I need to get started on for Valentine's Day. Happy Weekend~ I'll see you soon!

Good morning! Things are calming down here a little, and after a trip to the doctor and the er yesterday both kiddos seem to be getting over this nasty rotavirus stuff. If you haven't had any experience with it, consider yourself among the lucky. Take it from me, it is disgusting!!! Thanks to those of you who have been praying for us in the transition- 2010 came on like a freight train, but it is starting to regain a little 'normal'.

Boxes are slowly being unpacked and our house is starting to feel like home. It is funny, though, because we have so much more space here than in our old apartment, so several of the rooms feel rather empty. I'm sure in time we will expand into them... I take after my mother (I say that often, don't I!?) and tend to accumulate things from origins I can't identify.

I wanted to take some time this year, and at the end of last year really, to focus on why I do this (blog, create, 2 sweet things shop, etc). I don't want this space to become a chore or 'just another mommy blog'. Tara from scoutie girl has written a great e-book entitled '52 Weeks of Blogging your Passion', and I am working my way through it. I think it's awesome to have started it at the beginning of the year, especially when this whole life is a fresh start for me in many ways: new year, new home, Trace's new job. Week One is all about defining your mission, and I had every intention of getting to that in this post, but as I type I realize that I'm just not ready. So, I hope to have my formal mission statement ready tomorrow (it's still week one, right!?). I really see great things for 2 sweet things this year, and I hope you'll come back!