I am 30.

Today is my 30th birthday....it still feels funny to say...I have been dreading this day ever since I was about 26. I thought once I hit thirty that was it, I was old, and every trace of youth was out the window. Now it is here, I took a big gulp, and stood tall. I am actually now glad that I am 30. The 20's have been a fun and interesting ride full of ups and downs. There is so much to learn in your 20's, who you are, where you stand, and how to function and be successful in adult society. I am no longer naive. I am a lot less vulnerable, and I am no longer swayed by peoples opinions of me for the most part...I grew up in my 20's, learned how to be a wife, mother, and homemaker. I have learned to cook, clean, decorate, garden, sew, use "man" tools, and home school. I am stronger, more confident, happier, and more whole.

I feel grateful to live in a time and place where the life expectancy is long, and I can look forward to many years ahead, God willing. In my 30's my children are going to grow up, and I know that the love for my husband will continue to grow. It seems the 20's are a growing up period and the 30's is when you can really start to love living as an adult in this great nation, and at this great time.

So, to all the young people who like me, think that turning 30 is scary. I say don't be scared, it is wonderful, and refreshing...life keeps getting better :-)

                                                      Happy birthday to me, and blessings to you,

Oh, and one more thing, I am so happy that on my 30th birthday I got to try one of these things, another life experience I did not have in my 20's

                                                                Happy Wednesday!

I saw the light...the skinny

So I quit my work...I am not going to be doing Sweet Home Boutique anymore...I am going to close up shop for good....woo, and it feels good....

I thought I could do everything, but I was decieved...My life was drifting to a place I was not happy with...I forgot the love and happiness I found in being "simply a homemaker"

My children need me...I was burning my self out with all of the sewing (and God bless to all of my customers--thank you deeply for loving my work)..I was staying up late sewing, and getting up early cleaning feeding and homeschooling my children...

When my children got sick, I was not rested enough to properly care for them...so I quit....I need to retreat again to my place of rest....My bed with my face in prayer...Not only for my family, my husband, and my country...but for you...all of you...As I spend time in prayer the Lord brings people to my mind  people that need prayer support...This is the greatest way I can be a servant at this season in my life....

I will still blog, as I really love it...but it will be about my beautiful family, mothering, gardening, prayer, faith, being a wife, our life as a Navy family, and more....oh and sewing....I still love sewing :-)

God bless and happy Sunday...may you rest is his Peace this day

Sunshine valances, popcorn ceilings, and steps

before my mother-in-law left, we made these together, I bought this fabric to make a bag, but thought it was so pretty I would turn them into valances, she cut the patterns, and I pressed, and sewed them up. When my husband gets back we are going to be replacing a lot of things, namely those floor lamps.

I made matching valances for the living room, and we will be replacing those  blinds. The slats kept falling off so, I started throwing them in the trash....their long bendiness were stressing me out...That piece of paper on the china cabinet is our countdown chart until daddy comes home

The upstairs is also looking good, he has about 2 weeks of work left until it is done...Do you like the step in my sewing room?

here it the step that he put in that goes up to the 9ft hallway, and then playroom

he also this week put in the window seats

oh, and the creation of stairs led to this (no not an industrial strength vacuum cleaner) another hidden storage space!

He has already primed, and this week he is going to be laying all of the trim, painting, and cutting the entryway into our downstairs...next week is carpeting and the finishing touches....YAY!!!

Happy Sunday!!!



oh, and this is what the popcorn ceiling looks like up close :-)



windows, and sheetrock, and floorboards oh my

Here are the latest pictures of the attic conversion, Monday will start week number 6. This week he is going to be taping and "mudding" the sheet rock, spraying the ceiling with something that makes the ceiling textured, and laying the base boards...woo hoo!!!



going upstairs





sewing room

 

sitting room



don't look directly at the light....can you tell I NEED the sunlight...this is the playroom



sitting room from another angle...

with her profits she plants a vineyard...

So, I am not exactly growing a vineyard, but this year we are starting our garden from seed indoors. I grew up in a garden...literally...my parents were back to nature, and my mother is more knowledgeable of growing and gardens than anyone I know. I remember, as a little girl, running through rows of tomato fields in my mothers garden (and finding baby bunnies in them too)...I say all of this because gardening is in my blood, and I love it.

As far as the title above...The proverbs 31 women plants a vineyard from her earnings. She is my role model. I don't aspire to be her, but I aspire to be a godly woman, and as God moves in my life, I see my life lining up more and more with hers. Her story encourages me in my own.

I took some pictures of the process, so that you can see how it easy it is, and grow some for yourself too...

this is a little pic to show you what you have to look forward too
(well,  hello there sunshine)

 So, this is what you need to start an a garden from seed......



dirt
( for gardens)




supplies, garden trays, seeds, a pencil, I plastic wrap, and a label maker (optional). You will also need a spray bottle



put the dirt in the cells

print out some sticky plant labels (this is optional, but helps to keep things organized)

label the cell



poke little holes using a pencil



take out your little seeds (these are teeny tiny poppy seeds)

put teeny tiny seeds in the holes

gently cover them up with dirt





water the delicate seeds with a spray bottle until they sprout

after you have all of that done, you either cover it with plastic wrap, or some cell containers come with a plastic cover like the one shown above

 

My children also made gardens. We took a container, lined it with plastic, and did all of the steps above and covered it with plastic.

Make sure to keep your soil moist, and when they sprout, take off the plastic, and place near the sun (a window etc.)
When the plants are mature, you can move them outside (still handle with TLC), and when your garden is prepared transplant.

Have fun and good luck!



I also listed this sweet wrap skirt today in Sweet Home Boutique...

Happy Saturday!

moving right along....

I wanted to share some pictures of the progress of our attic conversion

future childrens playroom with big windows

future sewing room, the window is going to be taken out and a larger put in

future sitting room with big picture window

another view of the sitting room, taken from my sewing room

another playroom shot

and a new little dress I listed using Patty Youngs, mod kid pattern. It has a hood, and I can't wait to list more of these

Have a great day, and happy Friday!

tagging, sticking and stitching

I have been super busy this week with orders. I love, love, love my customers, and I hope they can feel that in the products that I provide for them...I have made and shipped orders out this week to Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and more. I have also made my first sale to New Zealand. I always get super excited for international orders. It is my goal to sell to both Ireland and Israel...I have always wanted to go to Ireland and run through the hills, and Israel, well it's Israel.

I am expecting several bolts of Fabric from designers like Amy Butler, Anthology, and Free Spirit. Unfortunately my first couple of bolts went on a vacation in Hawaii first, as I did not realize until after they shipped that my eBay address had not been updated to SC....ooops....I hope they have a nice trip and come home soon.

I am also wanting to try out several new things in my shop. By far my empire waist tunics are my most popular and main seller, but I am also wanting to add women pea coats for spring, and a simple wrap skirt with contrasting belt. I have a great pattern by mod kid for a little girls dress with a pointy hoodie, and I can't wait to make several more of those when the bolts start coming in. I have been so busy with custom orders, that I will not get a chance for more designs until I complete all of my customers orders.

I have also started tagging all of my clothing. These tags are a bit tiny, but after I use these 160, I will make sure to buy larger next time

This is my new machine, it is a lot more basic than my viking, but I am only doing basic sewing, and I LOVE the auto tension!

 
I also got Sweet Home Boutique Stickers!! I know they are not needed, but I think they add a nice touch to my packages. It makes my brand more visible!

                                                   Have a wonderful week Everyone :-))))))