Pattern Review: Clara Dress + New Lens

I finally got a chance to sew up the Violette Field Threads Clara. Or rather, Baby Clara. This is size 12-18m and it fits perfectly.  Maybe a bit too perfectly since it's going to get chilly around here and I'll have to layer it. I used some of the nice Walmart fabric you can find around, and it's really nice--as nice as anything from Joanns or Hancock.  The Clara is a gorgeous pattern and I've seen so many amazingly beautiful designs around.  I'll definitely make some more, but maybe not so tiny.  Those bodice ruffles are kind of a pain. 

I also got a new lens for my camera.  My kit lens only autofocuses when it feels like it which is super inconvenient. I wouldn't mind manual focus if I'm doing still life, but toddlers are another story.  I've been wanting to try out a 50mm for years now so I took the plunge.  I'm still trying to figure it out, really, but I love these pictures of Amelia.  I'm sorry my blog has just become Amelia Oversharing.

 There was an airplane up there. 

This is one of her main faces. Apparently I make one similar and this is her version. 

 Practicing the princess wave.

Another Classic face.

 Oh man I love this girl.

And this is how excited she gets when Maddie comes home from a run.  

Sunday Selfies

This is what my daughters do while I'm playing

the piano for the choir...

Grateful Sunday

•  We got our Christmas card photo done.  It's one of my least favorite things to do.  So much pressure! I like taking pictures of my kids, but for some reason when you say " this is for our Christmas cards, please try to all cooperate" things just go awry.  Meaning, Wyatt.  That boy did NOT want to be pleasant. The other kids were pretty decent.  I told them that if they were good they could each get a candy and a drink from the vending machines at Ty's office.  That is a huge incentive.  

• Today was Stake Conference.  Tyler and I attended the adult session last night and I volunteered to stay home with Wyatt today.  He still hasn't recovered from the time change and I just have to say naps are not optional at this point in our life.  
• I am so thankful for our good friends, The Bowes.  They are such a wonderful family.  Elizabeth and I have such different backgrounds, but somehow, we end up with very similar thinking.  It's so comfortable.  
• The weather has been so lovely, but it's supposed to get cold this week (oooooo!  40s!)  I must say, I'm thrilled.  I have as hard time getting into the holiday spirit when it's so warm outside.  
• I'm almost done with my doula certification.  My goal is to get it submitted before this baby is born.  Which, is not that far away.  I have a feeling these next 2 months will fly by.  
• I made these brownies tonight.  They are SO very good.  But I am regretting eating 2.  One was enough; they are so rich.  But sometimes I just do that. Don't they look so festive? 
  

photo from here.

Chihuly

One of the things we did in Dallas was visit the Dallas Arboretum.  There was a Chihuly art display and it was amazing.  It was so fun to take pictures of the amazing glassworks.  More pictures of the gardens coming up.  I would love to come back when things (live plants) are really in full bloom.  They really were spectacular.

Happy Sunday

The morning breaks, the shadows flee;

Lo, Zion's standard is unfurled!

The dawning of a brighter day,

The dawning of a brighter day

Majestic rises on the world.

Jehovah speaks! Let earth give ear,

And Gentile nations turn and live.

His mighty arm is making bare,

His mighty arm is making bare

His cov'nant people to receive.

Angels from heav'n and truth from earth

Have met, and both have record borne;

Thus Zion's light is bursting forth,

Thus Zion's light is bursting forth

To bring her ransomed children home.

Parley P. Pratt, 1807-1857

Train Shoot

Last night we doubled with our new friends, the Allens. Our original plan was to head down south to photograph (Jeffrey is a major photography guy and I thought I could learn something him) this caboose I saw on some train tracks. So after we ate Mexican food, grabbed all manner of foreign treats at George's International Market and the Asian food store we toured our town's lovely south side and headed to the tracks. Unfortch, the caboose I wanted to shoot was gone. Major bummer because how many times do you see an actual caboose hooked up on the tracks? But we still had a super fun time and got some cool pictures. In addition, we scored (stole?) all sorts of discarded train parts for Will's room... So here's my top pics.

I'm sure to people who actually know what they're doing these are nothing special, but as a total beginner, I know that just getting out there is the best way to get better. It's my best for now. Someday...

My attempt at panning.

Photo crew.

You'd never know from this shot that Mary Irene is pregnant.

She's unfairly cute.

My favorite shot of the night.

Thanks Jeff for sharing your knowledge with me--it's a great help.

I had a total fun time, and hope we can go out again!

Thanks guys!

Scenes from Shipshewana

What a beautiful fun place to visit. I had so much fun with my friend Abbey and her cute girl, Ella, browsing the fabrics and fun shops. We ate a delicious lunch and enjoyed the colorful flowers outside. We both came away with some great fabrics--Abbey's got big kitchen-y plans for hers, and I have little purse-size plans for mine. Stay tuned!

In Bloom

I'm having a lot of fun with my camera and all the beautiful flowers blooming right now. I'm just amazed at how beautiful things can get here. Winter wasn't long enough ago for me to not appreciate the colors, the warmth. I made a haphazard bouquet of blooms from the yard and every time I walk by I get happy giddy feelings!

This rosebush is called 'Queen Elizabeth.' I bought it from walmart 3 years ago and it has NEVER bloomed. Apparently they are notorious for lots of growth and iffy blossoms. We made all sorts of jokes about executing the queen, the queen must die etc etc etc and she must have heard, because this year she bloomed! And holy cow isn't she beautiful?! I'm so glad there wasn't a peasant uprising. I have to stop multiple times a day to admire her beauty and scent. I won't find it weird if you need to drive by and look at it too. I'll understand.

I also happen to find that little boy pretty cute too.

And lastly, one more teacher gift: Maddie didn't want a bag for her teacher, so I made these. It's a sneak peak at my forthcoming business venture. The one I keep saying I'll do once I get my other projects done... hahaha!

Train Pix

Well, I didn't get much sewing done yesterday, so instead of the kitchen, here's a collage of some train pictures I took while in Galesburg (train capital of the Midwest!). I have to say that I love trains too. I'm just fascinated by them. I want to blow some up and use them for Will's train themed room. I will add that to my list of things to do. Promises promises.

No Pictures?

I know you're totally not going to believe this, but sometimes I am REALLY DUMB! Really dumb. Like tonight. We had a wonderful Provident Living Fair as a ward. Twenty-eight booths ranging from car repair to backyard chickens (hehe) to homemade wheat grinders. Plus yummy food. It really was neat. There were lots of giveaways--fresh honey, fresh eggs, home canned food. And each booth was decorated with found materials.

But here's the dumb part: I forgot my camera. Here's the REALLY DUMB part: I made Tyler go home (2o min) and get it. And here's THE DUMBEST PART!!!: My camera that Ty brought dutifully back did not have the SD card in it!!!!!!! I couldn't take any pictures!

So there you have it.

And a great job Jennifer, I'm sure you're glad it's over, but it was a great night!

The Camera

As you all know, I worked my hiney off at our yard sale last week and earned enough money to finally buy a dslr. I had been wanting one for a very long time, for two reasons. One, I want better pictures of my children. It drives me NUTS that I try to take a picture and my kid's head turns before the dumb camera takes the shot -or- I take a cute picture only to discover that the main focus of the shot is the messy background. And two, photography is on my list of things to learn in this lifetime.

And since our nice point-and-shoot was destroyed a few weeks ago by our sweet little boy, I thought now was a great time to start crossing that off my list.

Here's how I arrived at my decision of what camera to buy:
1. I knew I wanted a Nikon. I don't know why, that was just something I decided awhile back.

2. The D40 is the entry level camera. I know absolutely nothing about cameras or photography. I didn't want to get over my head with a camera that was too fancy or confusing. I had read good reviews at how easy the D4o is to operate.

3. The D4o is a Consumer Reports Best Buy. I trust them. The D4o has only 6 mega pixels compared to the D4ox and beyond. Consumer Reports said that you don't need all those mega pixels: it's better to have a camera with other good stuff going for it then just a ton of mega pixels.

4. Nikons are easily upgradable. So if I do become super photography woman and start a business (not on my list of things to do) I can move up.

5. And most important to me: the price was right.

Here's how I feel about my camera:
1. I love it.

2. It's very easy to use. It has an auto button, and all sorts of other programmed buttons (sports, macro, portrait etc) and it's also easy to switch to manual mode and focus things yourself.

3. I think it takes amazing pictures, even by a person who knows nothing.

4. You can take photos very fast. You can even just hold the button down and it just snaps snaps snaps. This was really important to me.

5. It's very easy to view the photos afterward, it's very easy to delete them, and it's very easy to crop, red eye, etc right there on the camera.

My one hesitation:
It does not have a "Live View" capability. You know, like a normal digital camera that you hold away from your face. You can only look through the eye piece and then see your picture on the screen afterward. I wondered if that was going to be a problem, but so far there was only one time I wanted to hold it away from my face, and couldn't. If this is super important to you, the Canon Rebel has the live view screen. But hey--you definitely look cooler with a camera up against your face.

Other stuff:
When I bought my camera they were having a smokin' deal and I got a telephoto lens for free (and a camera bag!). I highly recommend the lens, it's a 55-200 zoom. It is sooooooo fun. It takes amazing pictures from far away. I can capture the look on Will's face from another room without him turning to me and ruining the shot. It has this hood thingy too, and you do end up looking a bit like the paparazzi. I don't know if that's good or bad...

Bottom line:
I know people who own this or that camera think theirs is the best, and that's good. I'm just saying that I'm very pleased with what I got, I think it's a good fit for me, and I look forward to learning how to use this fine piece of equipment. And Will's not allowed anywhere near it.

For more reviews of the D40 see here and here.