tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48923742889992977942024-03-19T08:39:25.844-04:00Such Big Dreams...Such Big Dreams for Such a Small PersonEvan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-51671847442633083792013-11-06T23:09:00.000-05:002013-11-06T23:09:13.771-05:00Chevron Scarf Patterns...Yes, With an "S"So I have sucumbed to Chevron.<br />
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It's pretty, it's popular, and in crochet, it's easy :) I find it's relaxing to just sit and watch TV and crochet sometimes, and I have really ended up loving these scarves. So, for your enjoyment, I've put the patterns together. I wanted to have better pictures (the story of my life) but I also wanted to get this out here so if any of you wanted, you could still make some for Christmas presents. <br />
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Both scarves are made with Loops 'N' Thread Charisma acrylic yarn. I love this stuff because it's thick, it's soft, it's warm, and because it's acrylic, it's cheap. Feel free to use whatever bulky weight yarn you like.
Skinny Chevron Scarf
Uses one skein each of two different colors Charisma yarn.<br />
Guage: Again, I didn't pay much attention to guage, but on a scarf, it's not that important.<br />
Hook Used: Size K, and my side note for anyone who hasn't used my patterns, I usually have to go up two hook sizes to obtain the guage needed on commercial patterns, so you might want to use an I.<br />
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All terms are American and standard abbreviations are used
I'm gonna include some math here for those of you who like it. If you don't like the math just skip ahead to Row 1. It will also allow you to make as wide a scarf as you like. If you don't like the math just skip ahead to Row 1. We're going to say that in the Skinny Scarf, each row is made of one "chevron unit." That's one line up then one line down. So, for example, the letter "M" consists of two chevron units. In my pattern, each "line" of the chevron consists of 4 stitches. Then there will be the "peak" stitch and the "valley" stitch. The peak stitch is really 3 stitches in one stitch on the row below. The valley stitch is really 1 stitch in 3 stitches below. So, in each chevron unit, there are two lines (4 stitches below), a peak (1 stitch below) and a valley (3 stitches below). Therefore, each chevron unit consists of 12 stitches total. And therefore, for however many chevron units you want on each row, you will chain 12. Then, since the last chevron unit won't need a valley, you'll just ch 9 for the last unit. Make sense? So for the Skinny Scarf, you'll only ch 9 since there's only one unit. For the Infinity Scarf, you'll ch 21 since there are two chevron units. Again, if you don't like math, or if this doesn't make sense, just start at Row 1.<br />
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Row 1: With color 1, ch 9<br />
Row 2: ch 2 turn, dc in next 4 st, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 4 st<br />
Row 3: ch 2 turn, 2 dc tog, dc 3, 3 dc in next st, dc 3, 2 dc tog<br />
Rows 4-5: Switch colors, repeat row 3<br />
Rows 6-7: Switch colors, repeat row 3<br />
Keep this pattern up until your scarf is your preferred length or you run out of yarn and finish off. My scarf was my preferred length when I ran out of yarn. How convenient. So basically, just do two rows of one color, then switch and do two rows of the other color.<br />
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All that being said, here's the pattern for the Infinity Scarf. I'm writing it for the color pattern that I made it. Feel free to alter that as you please :)<br />
Row 1: with cream yarn, ch 21<br />
Row 2: ch 2 turn, dc in next 4 ch, 3 dc in next ch, dc in next 4 ch, 2 dc tog skipping 1 ch in between (this st covers 3 st in the row below), dc in next 4 ch, 3 dc in next ch, dc in next 4 ch<br />
Row 3: ch 2 turn, 2 dc tog, dc 3, 3 dc in next st, dc 4, 2 dc tog skipping 1 st between, dc 4, 3 dc in next st, dc 3, 2 dc tog<br />
Row 4-5: Repeat row 3 with Red yarn<br />
Row 6-7: Repeat row 3 with cream yarn<br />
Row 8-9: Repeat row 3 with navy yarn<br />
Keep repeating Row 3 alternating cream, red, cream, navy until your scarf is the length you want or you run out of yarn. Since this is an infinity scarf and twice as wide as the Skinny Scarf, you probably don't want it to be very long. Mine was about half the length of my Skinny Scarf.
When you decide the scarf is long enough, make sure your color pattern lines up. For example, if you followed the above color pattern, and your last row is a cream stripe, you probably want to add the next color (or pull out the cream) so you aren't joining two cream stripes, but that's really just personal preference. Then line your ends up, right sides together, and slip stitch a row across to join. Finish off.<br />
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Now enjoy your fuzzy, fluffy goodness. Or give it away as a gift.
And as always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I realize I'm not always the best at explaining myself. Just leave me a comment with an email address I can get back to you at, or email me directly...EvanBeckyBryant@gmail.com
Enjoy!
Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-70931213062959542802013-10-22T22:47:00.001-04:002013-10-22T22:47:09.909-04:00FMI--To DoLike FYI, but For My Info. I've started to crank the shop back up and have put out a new product. The Embroidered Key Ring.<br />
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And luckily, there have been several people interested in them. I've also drafted a new pattern for the Bowling Bag. Plus a lot of other stuff. So here goes another to-do list with deadlines.<br />
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~More key rings. Got to get some more fabric for some. I know of three that need to be done. The other numbers I'm not sure of. But those are to be done before Christmas. After all, they make great gifts.<br />
~An order for 2 dozen Christmas gift card holders--Thanksgiving <br />
~The Bowling Bag prototype--ASAP<br />
~Baby cords--Nov 21<br />
~The 4 remaining wallet combos--ASAP<br />
~A few Christmas presents that I can't mention because the recipients may read this blog :)--Obviously, Christmas<br />
~Rice warmers--Nov 21<br />
~Initialed Stuffie Monster for Josiah--Christmas<br />
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And at 10:45 PM, that's all I can really think of. I can (will) always add more :)<br />
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Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-21927692805579423292013-10-13T22:39:00.000-04:002013-10-13T22:43:33.042-04:00All American Hero HatScroll towards bottom for pattern. But read anything you want before :)<br />
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Yes, I realize it's been a very long while since I've posted anything crafty. A very long while... But here in the past few weeks, I've decided that instead of wishing and blogging about projects I want to do, I'm just gonna do 'em. And the results have been rather pleasing.<br />
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Since the beginning of Summer, I've made...<br />
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A baby gift for a college friend (not posting the pic because she still doesn't have it yet. Nicki, that's what you get for moving to Korea)<br />
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A duffel bag for Josiah to take to the beach. I started to be brave and sneak in Josiah's room while he slept to snatch said duffel bag for a picture, but I opened the door and heard him stir, so I chickened out and ran like someone was chasing me. So no pic.<br />
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A drool mat. That is not used anymore because of baby mobility. I didn't even get a picture before I put it up, but I made it using a vinyl tablecloth, an egg crate mattress pad, a fleece throw and blanket binding. All stuff I could get from our local Fred's or I already had.<br />
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A dress for one niece, a shirt for her sister, and matching shorts for my Stink Bug<br />
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An umbrella cover, because the existing one didn't have much SPF to it.<br />
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A Hello Kitty applique pillowcase shirt and Boutique Jeans for my little cousin.<br />
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A crocheted football hat for Stink Bug. It's just like all the ones that you see on Pinterest, Etsy, and elsewhere.<br />
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The "All American Hero Hat" for Stink Bug's Halloween costume (Pattern to come later, like in just a few more lines)<br />
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A crocheted skinny chevron scarf (Pattern to also come later, like in another post)<br />
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Another crocheted chevron scarf in my favorite cream, burgundy and navy color combo. <br />
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And in the works are...<br />
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The coat that I first mentioned <a href="http://evanbecky.blogspot.com/2011/07/thursday-to-do-july-28-2011.html">here</a> about 2 years ago. This thing is so close I can taste it. I just have to finish the hem on the lining and reposition a button.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJEqok5u4aA0rMe1xCQlPlJ-7q9n36h7Vytkyf4Dy7mKwAi6dvhh3coc75GIut2O50hcSik6zHlBrkTZkEaNXdBBJh7qd-xfeqOHwgGVcMuvojp6T0BjhYWoPmCfe-TsqAk20cj2tlgY/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>A bag to match the coat. That is actually done now. Amazing what two weeks between writing a draft and publishing a post can do. Too bad I can't make shoes too.<br />
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Another pile of ID wallets to put in the shop. 4 of 9 are done now.<br />
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A "Bowling Bag" inspired by the Vera Bradley bags that everyone seems to be toting nowadays.<br />
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And I think I'm maybe gonna make some baby cords out of some of my old pants and some rice warmers that hopefully Stink Bug will hold on to when we go to Dollywood at the end of November. He sure does like his rice sock, but I don't want to carry my grungy old mismatched sock out in public. And maybe a microfleece animal/lovey of some sort. I am NOT willing to cut up my housecoat for the baby, so I've got to find some cheap fabric. And <i>maybe</i> a baby hoodie sweatshirt. I say maybe because Josiah really doesn't need it, but it's kind of fun to just see if you can do it :)<br />
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So I said that the "All American Hero Hat" pattern was coming later. It's later. I wanted to get it out there in time for Halloween so if you wanted to make one for your little Hero, you can. As you may already know, my brother's name is Sam. When Josiah was born, that made him Uncle Sam. Megan, Sam's girlfriend, found a Halloween costume for a couple that was Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty. And they decided that Josiah needed to be Captain America. She even got him a Captain America T-shirt. So I set to work on the hat. I call it the "All American Hero Hat" because it's not exactly Captain America, and I don't want to infringe upon any copyrights or licensing or such. If you make this hat, I do ask that you don't sell anything you make from the pattern. I usually don't care, but I'm still kind of funny about the licensing stuff. Please make as many as you want for personal use or as gifts, just please don't sell them. Thanks! I didn't pay much attention to guage since I wasn't going to go commercial with this pattern. And this pattern involves switching yarn colors. I didn't include instructions for that, but I'm sure you can find some better tutorials than I could write on the matter.<br />
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Size: Made to fit my will-be 10 month old who has a large head<br />
Yarn Used: Lily Sugar 'N' Cream, 1 ball each Red, White and Blue<br />
Hook Used: Size I, but I usually use a hook 2 sizes larger to obtain guage on commercial patterns<br />
This is an American termed pattern with standard abbreviations, bpdc = back post double crochet, fpdc = front post double crochet<br />
Hat Base, starting with blue yarn<br />
Round 1: SC 6 in a Magic Ring. Sl st to join to top of first sc. If you don't know how to do a Magic Ring, I made a video <a href="http://evanbecky.blogspot.com/2011/03/magic-ring-video.html">here</a>, but please feel free to find something better elsewhere on the net.<br />
Round 2: ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around. Join to top of first sc with sl st (12 sts)<br />
Round 3: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 4: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 5: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next 3 sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 6: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next 4 sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 4 sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 7: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next 5 sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 5 sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 8: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next 6 sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 6 sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 9: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next 7 sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 7 sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 10: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next 8 sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 8 sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 11: ch 1, 2 sc in same sc where joined, 1 sc in next 9 sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 9 sc* 5 times. Join to top of first sc with sl st<br />
Round 12-24: ch 1, sc in same where joined, sc in each sc around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Finish off at end of Round 24.<br />
Round 25: Join white yarn. Ch 2, dc in same sc where joined, dc in next 2 sc. Join red yarn, dc in next 3 sc. *Switch to white yarn, dc in next 3 sc, switch to red yarn, dc in next 3 sc* 11 times (or around depending on whether or not you like to count). Join with sl st to first white dc.<br />
Round 26-27: With white yarn, ch 2, bpdc around same dc where joined and around next 2 dc. Switch to red yarn, fpdc around next 3 dc. *Switch to white yarn, bpdc around next 3 dc. Switch to red yarn, fpdc around next 3 dc* 11 times. Finish off at the end of Round 27. (White yarn should be around white yarn, red yarn around red yarn.)<br />
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Wings<br />
Make 2 with white yarn Row 1: ch 10, turn<br />
Row 2: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 8 sc, do not ch when turning(9 sts)<br />
Row 3: 5 dc in next sc, skip 1 sc, sl st in next sc, skip 1 sc, 4 dc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc. Finish off.<br />
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"Target" applique<br />
Rounds 1-5: Follow instructions for Rounds 1-5 of Hat Base with red yarn<br />
Round 6: Switch to white yarn, sl st in each sc around, finish off.<br />
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Star applique<br />
Round 1: sc 5 in magic ring, join with sl st to top of first sc, do not ch<br />
Round 2: *(sc, dc, sc) all in next sc, sl st in next sc* 5 times. Finish off.<br />
<br />
Stitch star applique to center of target applique. Stitch target applique to center front of hat (I just guessed at this). Stitch wings to sides of hat using just the first 5 dc cluster. Position them slightly closer to the front than to the back. One will be "wrong side out" but just don't look too close and no one will really notice :) Weave in ends, you may want to use some fabric glue to tack down the yarn ends on the wings since there's no really good place for them to go.<br />
<br />
And there you have it! It's not Captain America to a T, but I bet anyone who sees it will recognize it as such. Enjoy! And thanks for stopping by! Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-35517005135836019392013-06-27T13:30:00.001-04:002013-06-27T13:30:23.387-04:00An Open Letter to All the Bad Mommies Out There...Dear Bad Mommy,<br />
<br />
I'm talking to you, Mommy who lets her baby sleep with a blanket, Mommy who lets her baby sleep on his tummy, Mommy who doesn't breastfeed, Mommy who lets her baby watch TV, Mommy who fed her baby solid food before 6 months old, Mommy who gives her baby a paci, Mommy who doesn't give her baby a paci, Mommy with loads of dirty laundry and/or dishes, Mommy with a not so clean house, Mommy who always makes time for a shower, Mommy whose baby doesn't always get a bath everyday, Mommy who let her baby cry for a few minutes so she can poop, Mommy who gets excited about her baby growing up and doesn't cry at every milestone, Mommy who has left a dirty diaper in the diaper bag for more than a day, Mommy who has left her baby with a realtive or at daycare on her day off, Mommy who forgets to take pictures every 3 seconds, Mommy who has ever wished the baby would just shut up, Mommy who works a full time job, Mommy whose baby has bumped their head when she wasn't looking, Mommy whose baby sleeps with her, Mommy whose baby sleeps in another room, Mommy who rocks her baby to sleep, Mommy who doesn't rock her baby to sleep, Mommy who gained too much weight during pregnancy, Mommy who didn't gain too much weight but still can't get it off after several months, Mommy whose baby is 6 months old and you haven't blogged the first thing about him, and Mommy who has committed a multitude of other "Mommy Sins" against your baby.<br />
<br />
You are not alone.<br />
<br />
Ever since I brought my little one home from the hospital, I've struggled with feeling like a bad mommy. There are so many things that I've done (and haven't done) with him that mommy society says I shouldn't (or should) have done. Most of the "sins" above I have personally committed, but it wasn't because I didn't have a well thought out plan for most of it. Josiah slept with a blanket for the first 2 months of his life because he was 3 weeks early, in the middle of December, and had no body fat. He cried more at diaper changes than he did at having his foot pricked just because he was naked and cold. Warm footie pajamas alone did not do the trick to keep him warm. We tried breastfeeding for 6 long weeks of actually just pumping and bottle feeding because he had so many things going against him with breastfeeding. He was early, had a rather traumatic birth, was jaundiced, etc. etc. When I reached the point that both of us were sitting in the bathroom floor crying, I knew something had to change.<br />
<br />
As an only six month old mommy, I don't claim to have the answers to all of the mommy problems out there. Actually I claim to have very few answers. I can't tell you to do this or that to be a "better mommy." I surely won't tell you that breastfeeding makes the baby weight melt off for everyone. When I pumped, if I didn't eat enough for a small army, my body didn't sacrifice itself to make more milk, it sacrificed the milk. I won't tell you that if you follow all the guidelines in all the parenting books/magazines/websites that you will have a happy, healthy baby who won't die from SIDS (mostly because if you read enough parenting books/magazines/websites they will all contradict each other on most issues). I won't tell you to let your baby cry it out, nor will I tell you to attachment parent. I won't give you any concrete advice, in fact.<br />
<br />
But I will tell you this. I read something in a parenting magazine (go figure) before Josiah was born that stuck with me. I apologize for not remembering which magazine, much less the author, of this wonderful article. It said something to the effect of, "The simple fact that you are worrying about being a bad mommy makes you a good mommy."<br />
<br />
Good mommies want the best for their children. Good mommies want to do everything right. Good mommies would give up anything if it would be better for their child. But good mommies are also human, and as humans have needs that should be tended to. And good mommies also beat themselves up when things go, not necessarily wrong, but not according to plans. And good mommies go looking for answers on the internet. <br />
<br />
So my answer, the best solution I've found for turning "bad mommies" into "good mommies:"<br />
<br />
Happy Mommy = Happy Baby<br />
<br />
All the while remembering that good mommies aren't selfish. Do what you have discovered is best for your little one. If you let your baby sleep in the same bed with you because she will sleep all night and won't sleep anywhere else, by all means, sleep in the same bed with that baby. If your baby sleeps in a separate room all by himself in a crib, sometimes with the door shut (but with some way of hearing distress) because he decided somewhere around 4 months that he doesn't want to sleep in the Pack N Play in your room, by all means, leave him by himself. If your baby latched on to the boob two minutes after he was born and still wants to breastfeed even when society says it's socially awkward, let him after it. If trying to breastfeed, and failing, has driven you to postpartum depression (and I'm convinced that kids can sense the depression), break out the formula. If you can hold a kid in your lap and poop, good for you! If you need a few minutes to yourself to poop, and maybe breathe, I promise your infant won't say when he's older, "Remember that time you let me cry in the floor when you had to poop? Yeah, I probably won't succeed in life because of that."<br />
<br />
The beautiful thing about mommies, is that God made each one of us as different as He made our babies. If everyone was the same, the world would get boring quick. But because He made us all different, we will all raise our babies differently. What works for one may not work for another. And what works for the other, may still not work for another. <br />
<br />
The only ones of us out there who are truly bad mommies (Mommies, now. Being a mother and being a mommy are two different things.) are those of us who are setting a bad example for our children by judging, and sometimes even berating, other mommies who aren't doing things our way. Yes, some of us went from "Mean Girls" in high school to "Mean Mommies" at preschool. I realize not everyone reading this is a Christian, but Ephesians 4:29 says, "When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you." (NCV). And even to someone who is not a Christian, this is good advice.<br />
<br />
So chill out, Bad Mommy. You really aren't that bad after all. Go get you a big piece of chocolate, or a new pair of shoes, or do some yoga, whatever makes you happy (because we are all different, remember) and enjoy that baby. And if you must hang out on parenting message boards, please remember to say only helpful things. If you must criticize someone, unless they are doing something dangerous, please just keep it to yourself. <br />
<br />
I'm pulling for you, I believe in you! Here's to raising our children in happy homes where they know they are loved. Even if they do have to cry in the floor while you poop. <br />
<br />Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-14493427326152936952012-12-12T16:48:00.000-05:002012-12-12T16:48:41.556-05:00Cholestasis and God's GraceMonday I updated the status on my Facebook page to say, "<span class="userContent">God's grace is not sufficient. God's grace is overly and abundantly awesome! Dave and I will be meeting our baby boy in just a week!"</span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent">On Thurs. Nov. 29, I got a major surprise. After the Thanksgiving Weekend of H</span><span class="userContent">orrible-ness, I woke up in the middle of Sunday night/Monday morning with the palms of my hands itching. I contributed it to an adverse reaction to the Bug, until the itching spread. Head to toe. I felt like a drug addict going through withdrawls, and probably looked like it too considering the circles under my eyes. I was waking Dave up in the middle of the night with my scratching. But there wasn't any rash. Since I had a Drs. appt. that Thurs. I just decided to wait it out until then. So when I told my Dr. about the itching, she said that it sounded like cholestasis, they were bumping my induction from Dec. 31 to Dec. 17 and I would be seeing a specialist the next morning. Wow. That was a lot to process in just a few short minutes. I know I had a shocked look on my face because she said something to the effect of, "Look at me, I'm not excited. Not excited is good, this isn't anything bad." I was shocked because all of a sudden, there were two weeks that I thought I had to prepare for our little Dumplin' that I no longer had! And on top of that, I really haven't nested. So since then I've been nesting out of necessity. On top of finishing Christmas stuff. Hallelujah for online shopping! </span><br />
<br />
So to explain the cholestasis in what little terms I know. I knew the word from Med Tech school and knew it had something to do with either my gallbladder or liver. Couldn't remember which one. But I had also been told by my Dr. not to go looking it up because I'd find a ton of things that would just scare me to death. I looked it up a little just to refresh my memory because it would drive me crazy otherwise. From what I understand, my pregnancy hormones are keeping my gallbladder from moving bile like it should and that's causing bile acids to build up in my body which is what is making me itch like crazy. There's about 1 in 1000 cases in pregnant women, and it ususally isn't a big deal, until after 37 weeks. Then the bile acids can start causing problems for the baby. <br />
<br />
This was all discovered at 35 weeks. So now I've seen the specialist 3 times and will see them one more time before I'm induced. Once for lab work, an ultrasound to make sure Josiah's growing right and to put me on some medicine to bind the bile acids up (helped the itching tremendously!). Found out then that Punkin' Head already weighed 6 lbs 5 oz then. Big babies run in both our families. Once for another ultrasound. Once for a non stress test in which Josiah got the "Good Baby of the Day" award. He kicked so hard a couple of times that the heart rate monitor got knocked out of place and lost his heartbeat for a bit before he settled back down. And the last appt. will probably be for another ultrasound. I'll know Friday from my regular Dr. whether or not I'll need to go to the hospital Sunday night or Monday morning. <br />
<br />
I have hit the jackpot!<br />
<br />
We ran into some trouble with our insurance. We have a high deductible, but anything after our deductible is covered 100%. At least this past year. So we put our deductible away in an FSA because we knew we'd have to be paid up before the end of the year on our baby. Except the Drs. office can't file the insurance claim until Josiah actually gets here, and the FSA won't pay us back until the claim is filed. If he came after the end of the year, we would lose all that money in the FSA. Plus after the end of the year, our insurance benefits are going down thanks to the Affordable Heathcare Act (I do agree that something needs to be done about the costs of healthcare, but I don't think this is the way to do it, that's another story...). So even if Josiah got here before the end of the year, if we were still in the hospital after the beginning of next year, we'd still have a good chunk of change to pay out. Dave did the math and it would be the difference between paying no more than what we already have this year, or paying $11,000 next year. <br />
<br />
Plus you saw that at 35 weeks he was weighing in at about 6lbs 5 oz. After doing some extrapolating, he would weigh between 9.5 and 10 lbs if he came at 40 weeks. I know women have big babies like that all the time, but that doesn't mean they want to. And, I'm kinda on the small side. <br />
<br />
That's where God's Grace took over.<br />
<br />
I always knew he'd take care of us. If we had to pay the money, he'd provide a way. Things might be tight, but He'd get us through. If I had to have a 10 pounder, He'd help me through it. If I had to miss Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, He'd make next year's that much more special. But I never imagined He would do what He did for us.<br />
<br />
Now that I'm being induced on the 17th of Dec, as long as things are normal (even if I need a C-section), we'll be out of the hospital several days before Christmas. Which means I'll get to do at least some Christmas festivities. And which means we'll be home before the end of the year! We shouldn't have to pay anymore than what we already have. And extrapolating again, Josiah should only be between 7 and 8 lbs. And then, on top of all that, He provided for us in a way that we hadn't even really asked or worried about. Dave got more fire fighting money this year than he though he would. And with a new baby, more money is always a useful thing. <br />
<br />
Sufficient to me means enough. Just enough. A sufficient Christmas present for my 4 year old little cousin is a Hello Kitty t-shirt. And she would love that. But I want to give her over and above that. A Hello Kitty game, coloring book, hairbows. If we had the money, everything Hello Kitty I could get my hands on. I can imagine the delight in her eyes, and even though she won't love me less for not giving her the whole Sanrio store, I can imagine the hug that she would give me if I did. I think that's the way God is. I think that even though we ask for small things, He delights in giving us over and above what we ask for. More than we can imagine He would do for us. And because He's God, He can give us the whole Sanrio store. <br />
<br />
So by God's Grace, I have a pregnancy complication that is making my baby come 3 weeks early. And I'm not even worried about any health issues either Josiah or I might have. God has taken such great care of me so far, why would He do anything less in the days to come? Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-55811076557689111562012-12-05T17:01:00.000-05:002012-12-05T17:01:26.360-05:00What Not to Say to a Pregnant WomanAs we all have at least heard, pregnant women are some of the most emotional people in the world. I'm thankful that I have not been super emotional for the past 8 months. I've had a few breakdowns, mostly over my ability or inability to care for my baby properly, but it's a rare occurence. But over the past 8 months, I've compiled a list in my head of things that I will never say to a pregnant woman. I know most people ask or say things because they care about you (drawing some thoughts from my last post there), but there are some things that should just be kept to yourself :) Note: All of this is said in jest. If you have said one or more of these things to me, you are not on my bad list. Most things I don't even remember who said them. This is meant to make people laugh more than it is a rant. Because I know most pregnant women have heard at least some of these things. <br />
<br />
Belly Size Statements. I think I get these more than normal because I'm short. And Josiah has measured a week and a half ahead of schedule since 20 weeks.<br />
<br />
1. Are you sure it's not twins?<br />
Yep, ultrasounds are really good these days. And I've had 5. <br />
<br />
2. You know, another one could be hiding behind a kidney.<br />
Really? A 6 lb baby could be hiding behind a 150g organ. Seems plausible.<br />
<br />
3. You're not going to make it to your due date.<br />
This one is usually said with such authority that I'm convinced that the person making the statement is a Dr. Not really.<br />
<br />
4. You're huge! Or the variation, You look like you're about to pop!<br />
As if this makes anyone feel good. Coming from my brother isn't so bad, but that's because we give each other a hard time a lot.<br />
<br />
I would much rather have someone say, "Oh, it's gonna be a big baby!" than any of the above.<br />
<br />
Lies! These are unique for different situations. They have been true at times, but at times they haven't. The short of it is, don't say something to a pregnant woman if you don't think it's exactly true. We like to hear things that make us feel good, but we also know when it's not true.<br />
<br />
5. You're just glowing!<br />
Even though I do feel like I've glowed through most of my pregnancy, I got this one last Monday after I had a stomach bug most of the weekend and Daddy had already told me that he could tell by the look on my face that I was sick. Dark circles, no color, that distant look that said my brain was elsewhere...well, maybe I was glowing some way or another...<br />
<br />
6. You're just so cute!<br />
At some points, yes, I think I look cuter pregnant than not. At others, like when my hair hasn't been washed and I've worn the same sweater 3 days in a row and I don't have on makeup...not so much.<br />
<br />
The Stress Factor. The last thing we pregnant women need to be reminded of is how ready we aren't. Some people may have no problems with these statements. I, the procrastinator, do.<br />
<br />
7. Is the nursery ready?<br />
Nope, still piles of trash from new baby gear in the floor. Still toys in the crib. Still junk piled on the changing table. He's gonna sleep in a shoebox beside the bed (I told my grandmother, Mama Pat that one just to get a rise out of her even though it wasn't true. Mama Pat is usually asking for us to get a rise out of her). <br />
<br />
8. I bet you're ready to have him.<br />
See above. Plus, no, I've never changed a diaper and is anybody ever ready for sleepless nights? Am I ready to push a watermelon out of my body? In all honesty, I'm ready to have my little boy here to hold. What else I'll do with him, I don't know. I'm still mildly terrifed of babies. Right now, he's still snug and warm and doesn't need anything. I feel like he's grown so independent in the past months, squirming and kicking by his own free will. Then he'll be born and be completely dependent on someone else to take care of him. It's kind of scary.<br />
<br />
Let's Rephrase That. These are honest, I-care-about-you questions that I'll just rephrase when I ask another pregnant woman in the future. It just makes me feel like I'm letting people down when I answer some of these because I'm bursting their assumptions. I know that's probably all in my head.<br />
<br />
9. You're miserable, aren't you?<br />
No, not miserable. I'll rephrase to say, "Have you reached the miserable point yet?"<br />
<br />
10. Are you excited?<br />
One of my friends who had a baby 6 months ago clued me in to this one. And it kind of got funny at that point. She said pregnant women are supposed to remain in a constant state of excitement evidently. I'll rephrase, "I know this is an exciting time for you!" <br />
<br />
Misc. I don't know how else you would ask these questions, but they kind of make you want to print out business cards to hand out to answer these questions. They're usually rapid fire too.<br />
<br />
11. When are you due? Do you know what it is? Have you picked out a name? First one? Have you been sick? Natural delivery or drugs?<br />
<br />
Then finally for good laughs, there are the memorable statements. The things that I've only heard once. But the things that have made me have to turn around and laugh at times. These I didn't mind hearing.<br />
<br />
Me: I just thought you would want to know that Dr. Pat (my Daddy) is going to be a Grandpa!<br />
Patient: Oh my goodness! That's so exciting! Wait...it is you and not Sam, right? (Sam is my unmarried brother who is still in college.)<br />
<br />
Patient 2: (Looking at my belly) Whoa! What have you been doing?<br />
Me: Probably what you're thinking about.<br />
<br />
Mama Pat: (Hollering across the church. Thankfully it was mostly empty.) Evan's getting seduced on the 17th.<br />
<br />
A close friend of my Daddy's: I wanted to tell your dad what the worst part about being a Grandpa is.<br />
Me: What's that?<br />Friend: Having to go to bed with Grandma.<br />
<br />
(Before we found out it is a boy)<br />
Daddy: We haven't found out if it's a boy or a girl, but I guaratee you, it'll be born naked.<br />
<br />
If I think of anything else, I'll write it down later. It's amazing the emotions and inhibitions that pregnancy breaks down. You find yourself telling friends things you never thought you'd say. And close friends, especially those who are also pregnant, get even more of an earful. It's also amazing what other people will say to you. I find out new things everyday it seems. There are a million things that nobody tells you about until you get pregnant. It's like it's some big secret and if you tell it before a woman gets pregnant, she won't ever get pregnant. Which I find to be rubbish because most people have more than one baby. They know the secrets and still got pregnant again. <br />
<br />
If there's anything else you'd like to add to make me laugh, just leave me a comment. I'm always up for pregnancy stories!<br />
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Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-3186097196161480152012-11-28T14:56:00.003-05:002012-11-28T14:56:34.309-05:00The Biggest Liars in the WorldAt some point last week or the week before (they all run together nowadays), it occurred to me that pregnant women are the biggest liars in the world. At least if most are anything like I am, they are the biggest liars. Don't get me wrong, I've had a great pregnancy and would, (will) do it again without a second thought. But how many of us, pregnant or not, when asked, "How are you?" say, "Just fine," when really we aren't?<br />
<br />
I say that pregnant women are especially the biggest liars because that seems to be a popular question that I get asked several times everyday. I know that this means that I see people who care about me everyday, and that's good, but I still lie to most of them.<br />
<br />
"So how are you feeling?"<br />
<br />
"I'm tired. I'm huge. There's this spot in my back that won't quit hurting. I have to pee all the time. I'm gassy. I have heartburn. Did I say I'm huge?"<br />
<br />
That's what I want to say. But instead, I say, "I've felt great. Can't complain at all," simply because I feel like I can't complain. There are so many women who have had morning sickness and blood pressure problems, very preemie births and a multitude of other problems. So who am I to complain about all these little problems?<br />
<br />
Still doesn't mean I didn't lie to them though. <br />
<br />
I have used this response, and should probably use it more:<br />
<br />
"How are you feeling?"<br />
<br />
"Very pregnant."<br />
<br />
That's not a lie. But it keeps me from complaining.<br />
<br />
I suppose that I was inspired to put all of this down in words after this weekend. For posterity's sake, I had a stomach bug on Thanksgiving. I go 8 years without catching a stomach bug and then manage to get one when I'm 8 months pregnant on Thanksgiving Day nonetheless. This weekend was the first time that I truly wished I wasn't pregnant. Not so much because I felt bad, but because I was afraid that anything I was doing was hurting little Josiah. Not eating, not drinking much, then taking a Zantac for indigestion (the doc told me to), not eating "healthy" stuff, pushing myself to hard, and some other gory details that I'll spare you. <br />
<br />
Yet, this somehow makes me a little proud. Somewhere in the first and second trimesters, I made the statement that I think I was the only pregnant-by-choice woman in the world who was scared of babies. But now I've started to feel that love that I'm convinced only God can make me feel for my unborn little baby boy. And this weekend was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster just letting the thought cross my mind that I might have hurt him, that I couldn't or didn't take care of him like I should have. <br />
<br />
There's my confession I suppose. It makes me feel better anyway to get all of that out. There's so much more than I can say, but maybe I should just take a cue from one of my favorite movies, The Italian Job, and when someone asks how I'm doing I should say, "FINE." Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional. I've heard pregnancy will do that to you :)<br />
Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-28592135732177380522012-11-05T16:01:00.001-05:002012-11-05T16:01:50.698-05:00Where Else Would I Start?But at the beginning.<br />
<br />
This will be a mommy post, so if you were looking for crafty-ness, it won't be in here. So you can skip it if you like. I know I didn't like reading mommy posts of strangers when I wasn't going to be a mommy. <br />
<br />
We decided that we wanted to start trying to have a family in December of 2011. My doctor told me that I could go off The Pill and start trying right away. She said that with me being young and healthy that I should get pregnant within 3 months. 3 months came and went, and those crazy female doubts started sinking in. Especially after 4 months. I had decided that if I wasn't pregnant the next month, I would go to the doctor to make sure everything was checking out OK. (We had deductible money, $3000 of it, put away in a flexible spending account and needed to spend it before the end of the year.) That "Magical Week" rolled around at the beginning of May. My tummy had been feeling funny, but that wasn't unsual. What was unusual was that the "Magical Week" hadn't started yet. So on Thurs, May 3, I peed on the stick, and got two lines! We decided not to tell anyone until Father's Day, after our first Dr's appointment.<br />
<br />
I had been feeling fine. Great really. But I have a long family history of sick pregnant women in my family. Like so sick that several had IV shunts in place just to get fluids. I was prepared to be sick. But I hadn't been. Until Sunday, May 7. We had our Middle Schoolers at the house that night. And had Little Caesar's pizza for supper. I was in the bathroom most of the night. No barfing, but the other end. I thought I had just had too much greasy pizza. I called my employer (Daddy) to tell him that I had an upset stomach and I probably wouldn't be in to work that day. What was worse, Hubs left that morning for a week long trip to Suriname, South America for his job. But I started feeling better during the day, and continued to blame it on the pizza. Until Monday night, which I also spent most of in the bathroom.<br />
<br />
I was sleep deprived, sick, and knew I couln't go into work like I was. But I was still torn on trying to keep the pregnancy a secret. But I was also afraid that I would get dehydrated, or so sick that I couldn't even get myself to a hospital if needed. So I still got dressed for work and went. I told Daddy that I thought I had a stomach bug and I was going to go to his house where Mama was. When I got to Mama and Daddy's house, I had to tell Mama. It wasn't the most creative way, sick-looking at 9 AM. But it worked. I think she suspected it anyway. I told my brother, Sam that morning too. He came down the stairs in nothing but his boxers. When I told him, his reaction was, "Ahh! My sister's knocked up!" which is the truth. I waited to tell Daddy until he got home that evening. He asked if I thought I had a stomach bug. I told him no. He asked, "Well what do you think it is?" I said, "I think you're going to be a grandpa." The look on his face was priceless. He did a double take. Then I think he may have danced around the room a little. But this was the hardest part. They couldn't tell ANYONE until Saturday when Dave got home. I couldn't let Dave's parents hear through the grapevine that they were going to be grandparents again. And Daddy wanted to tell EVERYONE. But the secret stayed safe, and after Saturday, Daddy told anyone he wanted.<br />
<br />
The rest of the week, I stayed at Mama and Daddy's house. Because it sucks to be sick and alone. I spent most of Tuesday that week feeling nauseous. I thought for sure that I would barf that night, and kind of wished I could at one point. And most of Wednesday too. But my OB reccommended taking Unisom and vit. B6, and it worked wonders for me. Every 8 hours for about 2 weeks. Then I decided to see if I could live without it. And I could. I had a few food aversions, and developed a couple of smell aversions, but I had more "evening sickness" than morning sickness. By the time I got home from work everyday, I just wanted to veg out on the couch and eat a peanut butter sandwich. But I still never barfed. To this day, I haven't barfed during pregnancy. (So Blessed!) <br />
<br />
We finally told Dave's parents on Saturday, and thanks to a husband who wanted me to tell them, but failed to let me know that, there was a, "You tell them," "No, you tell them," moment. So I think his parents knew before it finally left our mouths. I think they suspected it anyway too, because I'm never sick. <br />
<br />
And that was the most eventful thing that happened in the first trimester. We went to our first appointment, saw the heart beat, got pictures of the most adorable little blob I had ever seen, and eventually agreed upon the name "Dumplin'" for until we found out the sex. I just have a problem calling a baby "it" or "the baby" all the time. He needed a proper name.<br />
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Stay tuned! More stories to follow on the blame game and kicking! Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-6031560261185658832012-10-10T10:44:00.000-04:002012-10-10T10:44:34.090-04:00DeterminedLast night, Hubs had a class at the fire department at 6PM that lasted til about 9:30PM. That meant that he wasn't coming home between that and work. And I had to go to the grocery store. And I wasn't going to "cook" supper for just me. (I had a bowl of grits and a Toaster Strudel by the way, plus some Blue Bell Birthday Cake ice cream later. That's a whole 'nother story.) So I went home, ate supper, piddled on the computer while watching Monday's episode of Revolution onDemand and Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog on the CW (never thought that would ever be on TV). And somewhere during this, I realized that I hadn't blogged since April. So I decided that I was determined to write a blog post today.<br />
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So while I was in the shower last night, instead of reading the French translations on the back of my shampoo bottle for the millionth time, I carefully planned (meaning randomly thought about) what I was going to write for the next few posts. I went through pictures in my mind that I need to post, pictures that I need to take, and words I want to say. I eventually decided that an explanation was in order.<br />
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There are a number of things that I could legitimately blame my absence on. I could say that I've been too busy, had better things to do at home than play on the computer. I could say that since taking my new job, I have a greater feeling of self-worth that makes me not constantly turn to my blog and others' opinions of me. I could say that I've just been lazy. All of those are at least part of the truth. <br />
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But the biggest reason that I haven't blogged is probably the overarching reason for all of the excuses above. The truth is that for the past 27 weeks, I've had what can biologically be defined as a parasite. It sucks up my nutrients, makes me tired, continually grows and thrives within my body, and I technically get no benefit from it. But in just another 3 months or so, it will change my life. It will make me and Hubs probably the happiest we've ever been together (that is, if it hasn't already.) I know that it has tickled our parents and siblings. <br />
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If you haven't figured it out, I'm pregnant! I'm fulfilling one of the biggest dreams that I've had since I was a kid myself.<br />
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Ok, so it may seem a little inappropriate to call my baby a parasite. But I'm also the girl who kind of enjoys funerals because I get to see friends and family, then I break down afterwards. It also kind of grosses my brother out when I call the baby a parasite. <br />
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There will be more stories to follow of the first and second trimesters. Some with weeks attatched to them, most without. I haven't been a "good mommy" and written down everything that comes to mind about this "magical time." But neither did my Mama, and I don't think I'm any worse for the wear. There will be pictures. Pictures of belly, studio-turned-nursery, projects for our little Dumplin', and all the likes of that. And I'm cramming 6 months of all the "interesting" things that have happened into just 3 months of blogging. As if I needed to add anything to my to-do lists here lately!<br />
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Anyway, Josiah David, you are going to be one loved little boy, with one crazy Mama! <br />
<br />Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-47235543207835568532012-04-02T15:57:00.000-04:002012-04-02T15:57:05.044-04:00One of Those Weekends...I know that I promised a caution sign for negative posts. There's not one here, but I'm not apologizing. It's not all going to be negative. In fact, my plan is to make it funny.<br />
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This Saturday did not turn out at all like I had planned. I woke up in a foul mood. Thus, I was in a foul mood all day. I couldn't get my mind wrapped around what project I wanted to tackle. I should have known not to tackle anything too hard. <br />
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The first plan was to do my second pin-up style knock off. But the shirt that I was going to refashion no longer fit (darn the local Mexican restaurant). So I decided to make the dress I wanted with the beautiful navy blue ponte knit that I bought for way too much. I needed to do this. After all, I finally had my red wedges to match that I had been in search of. But as I was winding my bobbin, my thread ran out. I had to go to two different stores to find some navy thread. <br />
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All was made better for a while when I got home and X-Men Origins was on. Even as a mutant, Hugh Jackman is one fine man. <br />
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Then I commenced to making the dress. Nothing went as planned. I think the dress was mutating on me. I finally decided that it wasn't going to turn out how I had imagined. I changed my game plan and started redesigning. <br />
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Until I accidentally cut the straps off. <br />
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I think I threw it across the room. I'm not sure. I was in that mode where I just threw things. I know I threw the mayonnaise jar across the kitchen. Thankfully those are no longer made of glass. <br />
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But all hope is not lost! I still think I can salvage a decent dress from what I had. I was just so frustrated that I couldn't think of anything besides my "failure." I'm so self concious aboug failing. It has always seemed like the world was just waiting on me to fail. I've always felt like there were very few people who liked me. I'm not really sure if that's the truth, or if it's just a lie that Satan planted in my little middle schooler brain 15 years ago that somehow flourishes. Even if it is true, I KNOW there are some really great people who do love me. Even and especially when I do "fail." And to all of those people who fall into that category, thank you. You know who you are :) <br />
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But the only ones who never fail are those who never try anything new. I can tell myself that now. <br />
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So now the hunt is on for a shirt to refashion. And my seam ripper is going to get a lot of love.<br />
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But this weekend, I'm going to Dollywood again with Hubs, my Mama and Daddy, and Sam and Megan, my brother and his girlfriend. So unless the urge hits me after work one day. There ain't nothing in that sewing room getting much love this week! Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-74725763300176071042012-03-25T22:54:00.000-04:002012-03-25T22:54:42.916-04:00Knock it Off!I love knocking stuff off. I'm sure there's something wrong with that. But I love it. I always have. I have boxes of beads and shells from making hemp jewelry when I was in middle school and early high school. I didn't want to pay $10 (which was a lot to a 12 year old back then) for a necklace I could make for about $3. Plus I got the satisfaction of knowing that I made it. I think I've always been very analytical. I can look at stuff and figure out what went into making it. I've always been good at spatial things, like geometry. I think that was one of my favorite classes in high school and I did really well in physics in college. I just like figuring stuff out. And it's awesome when all of that combines into something more useful than what time two trains will collide. <br />
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All that being said. I found this dress at Belk a few weeks ago.<br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/84794405454036265/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://media-cache1.pinterest.com/upload/84794405454036265_q9h2XZAj_c.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.belk.com/AST/Main/Belk_Primary/Juniors/Shop/Dresses/DayDresses/PRD~1501080FD000591U3339IV/Fire+Butterfly+Print+Kimono.jsp?off=32" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">belk.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/evanbecky/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Evan</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div align="right"></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Yes, I succumbed to Pinterest, I feel like a sell out)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But I did find this dress in real life at Belk. There were just a few problems. 1) It was in the junior's department. Some things I can get away with in the junior's dept. like T-shirts. Not dresses. 2) Coming from the junior's dept. it was very short and see through. People complain about what hoochie mama's today's teenagers are becoming. Part of the problem is that mamas are buying the hoochie mama clothes for their teenagers. OK, getting off the soap box now. 3) The print is all wrong for me. Petite girls should wear petite prints. Not giant butterflies gracing their naughty bits. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">So I studied the dress in the store while the Clinique lady wondered what I was doing to the poor hanging half mannequin thing and remembered it for the day I found the perfect fabric. Little did I know it wouldn't be long before I found it. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHc1ZXrsDJdo8IlJtaRBcTdh2WnMlkEC0WrHhSs5I7tJFQQ2PNHan8TMWpuaZPpI-ojiP6zPY7d4x3TG8_nKCD8kvcjYY5g8G8u2a9iw8zBWshhcGEK_9ixkaXgs_coH2uF74hhp_43A/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHc1ZXrsDJdo8IlJtaRBcTdh2WnMlkEC0WrHhSs5I7tJFQQ2PNHan8TMWpuaZPpI-ojiP6zPY7d4x3TG8_nKCD8kvcjYY5g8G8u2a9iw8zBWshhcGEK_9ixkaXgs_coH2uF74hhp_43A/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I found this wonderful cotton knit at Hancock for $3 a yard! $3! And I used less than 2 yards. So that's a new dress for less than $6. It kind of has an Indian feel to the print. But it's in dominantly berry color. I love berry color. And I got some practice matching stripes. I'm wearing a long sleeve T-shirt under it because it was cold that day and I couldn't wait to wear my new dress, but the little white panel in front is sewn in so I won't have to wear a cami underneath in the summer. And the fabric is such better quality than what's in the stores. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm in love.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So my next knock off project is in the works. Because I think it's senseless to pay $200 on sale for a bag just because it says Michael Kors. Did he sign it? Sew it together himself? Guaratee it free of defects in workmanship? Write you a personal thank you note for shopping his brand? Even if he did, there's no sense in spending that kind of money for a bag that will go out of style next season. Just sayin'. </div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-75762900182930697192012-03-17T22:04:00.000-04:002012-03-17T22:04:07.564-04:00Supporting the March of Dimes!Hey everyone! This is going to be a short-ish post with a lot of horn blowing advertising. BUT...it's for a good cause. I have a friend from church who has an adorable baby named Ruthie. Ruthie was born at only 24 weeks and spent her first 3.5 months in the NICU. Ruthieis doing much better now, but sadly, Jay, Gina and Ruthie aren't the first family that has had to go through this and they won't be the last. <br />
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The March of Dimes aims to help more babies be born healthy and full term. Gina will be walking in and Ruthie stroller riding in a Greenville March of Dimes event in October. I'm helping her to raise money with this little cutie:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBOl1rkr286Kt17Wyq2-HEO6iskxNVcfS8lGi4_3biVuDpJnsae5D6xjA2m2ySZ0EVmJIzJrfBwswzrm9syRjBdnq3gZzNHZd6JBZ3ppjmoIJvBkqK2y8vIysewDQcjJVfPTDtcDTgHE/s1600/IttyBittyBagRuthieSide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBOl1rkr286Kt17Wyq2-HEO6iskxNVcfS8lGi4_3biVuDpJnsae5D6xjA2m2ySZ0EVmJIzJrfBwswzrm9syRjBdnq3gZzNHZd6JBZ3ppjmoIJvBkqK2y8vIysewDQcjJVfPTDtcDTgHE/s320/IttyBittyBagRuthieSide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is the Ruthie Bag. Made with colors and prints that Ruthie loves. It's small, but very versatile and sells for $15 in <a href="http://evanbecky.etsy.com/">Evan Becky's Gift Shop.</a> Good news is, that $10 of that will go to Gina's efforts to raise money for her walk.<br />
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So go check it out! You'd be getting a cute bag and helping babies! Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-48733625273963104652012-03-05T16:17:00.000-05:002012-03-05T16:17:43.288-05:001st Day to 5KI honestly can't recall if I've ever said anything about my excercise habits on my blog. I know I've mentioned a few things about losing some weight, but not much more than that. So here goes.<br />
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I've struggled with my weight since I was in middle school when I started drinking Diet Dr. Pepper. I started getting chunky and just never lost it. I loved eating too much. I would try one thing after another and nothing really worked for me being a teenager with self esteem issues and no will power. I got up to 135 lbs. by the middle of my junior year of high school. You're probably laughing now because that's probably a healthy weight for a lot of people. I'm 5'1". If I gain 2.5 lbs, I look like I've gained 5. So I finally decided to get the weight off by eating lots of small meals and dairy products. It didn't help that I was running around like a wild thing between band practices. I finally got down to 110 by my senior year.<br />
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I gained some in college, lost some elsewhere, gained a lot after getting married, lost some more working 2nd shift then gained some more after starting my new job. My weight rarely stays steady. I know that's not exactly good, but I'm trying my best to keep it in the healthy range. <br />
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Although I look healthy enough though, I rarely exercise. I hate it. I cannot understand someone who loves to exercise (like Hubs). There is nothing fun about working yourself until you are sick, and then hurting for the next 4 days because of it. I get no self satisfaction out of it. More than exercising, I hate running. I was always the kid who ended the game of tag because I couldn't run for long enough to make the game interesting. I was the girl who was judged unfairly in PE because I couldn't run constantly for 20 minutes whereas my peers on the championship Cross Country team could run for the whole hour and a half if they wanted to. I still feel like I'm mocked when I say that I can't run a whole, or maybe even half a lap around the 1/4 mile track at the high school. Especially when my friends are always posting on Facebook how they just had a great 3 mile run. I would love to be able to run, but I can't.<br />
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I have a bad taste in my mouth about running.<br />
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And considering my record with running, I wasn't about to go and spend money on a "Couch Potato to 5K" program. Especially since I've noticed that "Couch Potato to 5K" probably means "Someone who already can run at least a mile non stop to someone who wants to win a 5K."<br />
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Then I started reading about interval training. If you know nothing of interval training like I did, it's basically when you walk/jog at a slow speed for a period of time, then jog/run at a faster speed for a period of time and just alternate between those speeds. At first I thought I'd bombed it again. I found a program that the slow speed was faster than I could run anyway, so I knew I couldn't keep that pace. But while trying and failing at that attempt, I did find a song in my arsenal that was comfortable to walk to. So I put my phone on repeat and kept the beat. Being a marching band dork, this pleased me, a lot. So after that, I went in search of songs with similar beats per minute (bpm). I was fully prepared to buy some new music just so I could keep myself entertained, but I found this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.djsteveboy.com/images/1day25k_150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.djsteveboy.com/images/1day25k_150.jpg" uda="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.djsteveboy.com/1day25k.html">Podrunner Intervals 1st Day to 5K</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a free 9 week series of music downloads that follows the 1st Day to 5K plan. Just download the music to your music device, hit play and keep up with the beats per minute (each beat = 1 step). It's not music from the latest top 20. It's actually not music that many people have even heard. Kind of techno-y, tribal-y, funky-y. But the important thing is that it makes me exercise. And I can do it. I actually just speed walk the whole time. I'm so short and my steps are so quick I can walk fast and not have to run. I actually cover more ground walking fast that trying to jog at that pace, and I can't stand to see someone "jogging" when I can walk faster, then hearing them say "What a great run!" Isn't the purpose of running to get somewhere faster than if you are walking? Ok, sorry for that caveat. It just had to be said.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway. I've been at it for two weeks now, and I feel so much better. I'm not sore because I'm walking, something I do all the time, and I don't feel like I'm dying from the invisible knife that stabs me in the side when I try to run. Yet I'm still getting the cardio exercise that our bodies need. And I'm gradually covering more ground in less time. I probably won't be ready to enter a 5K race at the end of the program since I'm walking. That would be quite embarassing to step off the line power walking. But I'm one step closer to having better cardio endurance. And I get to spend some time with Hubs walking the 1/8 mile track at our local fire dept. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And maybe I've given someone else the motivation to start doing something healthy by writing this post.</div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-70124656609320359072012-02-08T17:27:00.001-05:002012-02-08T17:34:16.227-05:00Spanking Children Leads to Lower IQ?Yesterday I read this article online:<br />
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<a href="http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/spanking-may-lower-child-s-iq-canadian-study-4714229">http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/spanking-may-lower-child-s-iq-canadian-study-4714229</a><br />
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And I'll be honest here. I was a little upset. Actually quite bothered. <br />
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I'll offer a disclaimer here. As many of you know, I do not have kids. I love them, and want some one day but don't have any of my own yet. At this point, many parents may quit reading because you may think that I don't have a valid opinion on child rearing if I don't have any children myself. Please stick with me though.<br />
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The article states in short that spanking a child lowers their IQ. There are also hints in there that claim that spanking makes a child socially awkward. The thing that bothered me most about this article was the fact that they said that there were no studies where spanking created a positive outcome. And this may be true. But I know where they can find some adults who would be considered positive outcomes if they were ever studied.<br />
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I was spanked. Well and often. My brother Sam was even more so than I was. We grew up in mild fear of a paint stirring stick emblazoned with the words "True Value." Also in fear of a wooden spoon at one grandmother's house and a fly swatter at the other. My father grew up in mild fear of one of his grandmother's bedroom slippers. And we all knew exactly what a hickory was even though it may have come from a yellow bell or an azalea bush.<br />
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Here's the catch.<br />
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Excuse the blowing of my own horn. <br />
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I graduated at the top of my high school class with a GPA closer to 5.0 than 4.0. I started playing piano when I was 8 and the clarinet when I was 11. I was on my high school yearbook staff, was in the marching, concert, and jazz bands, was in the National Honor Society. Furthermore, I was Drum Major my senior year of marching band and president of the National Honor Society. I got a load of scholarship money and was a finalist for my college's biggest scholarship. When I went to college, I was part of the drama honor society and the Women's Chorale. After earning that BS in Biology I went through a program that earned me a second BS in Medical Technology in just 1.5 years and graduated with honors. <br />
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Now for Sam.<br />
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Sam played piano when he was 7, alto saxophone when he was 11 and guitar sometime in high school. He also played soccer through high school and was very active in our church youth group. Sam was anything but socially awkward. He was also in the Beta Club. He took computer repair classes and graduated from high school with honors in the top 25 of his class. He went on to Clemson University where he's majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and on track to graduate with honors. He's talking about going to grad school.<br />
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My point here is that we got spanked and it hasn't seemed to hurt us. In fact Sam got spanked everyday for most of his childhood. He would chase cats, bite me, chase chickens, give strangers the "stink eye," and rued the day that he told Mama to shut up. I got spanked for fighting with Sam, for hitting Sam, for doing something Sam talked me into. I wasn't a perfect angel and got plenty of my own spankings, but most were for things involving Sam. But we both got it especially for getting an attitude with a grown up or "telling stories," Mama's euphemism for telling lies. I would be afraid to meet either my brother, or myself now had we not been spanked as children.<br />
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Time outs wouldn't have worked for us. For one thing, it just didn't bother us. We knew we would go right back to playing in just a little while. Mama and Daddy also raised us so that we had enough imagination, that sitting still and quiet in a corner for a length of time didn't bother us. I could sit (and still do) imagine stories in my head without saying a word for a while. I've seen Sam play with a stick and a rock as if they were the latest GI Joe with Karate Chop Action. Mama sang songs to us, read stories with us, turned her hands red with Play Doh with us. We didn't need the latest baby doll or action figure that did everything for us. <br />
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Taking away privileges wouldn't have worked either. Refer to above stick and rock example. You can't take away every speck of lint away from a child. Believe me, we would have found something to play with. <br />
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So by instilling what I think is an amazing imagination in us, Mama relinquished two of the most popular discipline methods used today. So, should she have limited our imagination and not spanked us? <br />
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You may argue that this is my only point. Sure my brother and I may have great imaginations, but we could have been smarter had we not been spanked. If this is true, if we would have had a higher IQ if we had not been spanked, I'm still glad I got spanked. I may not be a genius. In fact, I really think I'm pretty average. But what I possibly lack in IQ, I make up for in respect. Sam and I grew up respecting people who were older than we were. We learned that you couldn't whine and cry and get your way all the time. We learned that you had to work hard to get what you want. We learned that you have to be responsible, whether it's for a group you are leading, or for the consequences of your actions. So even though it may have caused us to have lower IQs, I think that getting spanked was what allowed us to be good musicians, good students and good leaders. <br />
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The important thing is that when we were spanked, it was out of love. Our parents wanted us to be the best people we could be. They didn't get some twisted joy out of hitting a child and making him cry. They never spanked us out of anger, or left bruises. If I was spanked now the way I was when I was a child, I'd actually probably laugh. I always knew why I was getting a spanking. Mama made sure that we knew. We had to look her in the eyes and say we understood. That also helped me understand why later she might not let me go to someone's birthday party or spend the night at someone else's house. And I respected those decisions because she always explained why. Sure we got a lot of spankings when we were young, but we hardly ever did when we were teenagers. That's because we had learned early how to behave. We had our moments, as do all teenagers, but I really hope that compared to some, Mama and Daddy didn't have a lot of trouble living with us two teenagers. <br />
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Time outs and other disciplines may work for some parents. If they do, great! I'm not going to try to tell anyone how to raise their child. That's for each family to determine on their own. I'm just arguing that spanking shouldn't be taken away as a form of discipline as it has been in other countries. I'm also stating that the above article may be a little short sighted by implying that nothing positive can come from spanking a child.<br />
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So I wasn't playing Beethoven's Fifth Symphony when I was three. Nor was I solving the quadratic equation when I was five. How many kids, spanked or not, actually are? I do know that I consider myself a respected member of my community. And I don't think any drop in IQ I may have as a result of past spankings has hurt me.<br />
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At least I dont' sit in the corner by myself picking my nose.Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-48879398811560818642012-01-07T00:03:00.000-05:002012-01-07T00:03:45.705-05:00A Few Wild Weeks...I started writing a blog post several weeks ago. Then I added on a few weeks later. Then when I looked at it again I figured that everything was so out of date that I'd just better start over.<br />
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Amanda, here is your post ;) I didn't fall off the Earth. <br />
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I'm hoping now I can finally settle into a rhythm. But you may be thinking, "Evan, you've been in your new job for two months now, and you still aren't in a rhythm?" My answer: Christmas Season. Hubs and I have had to make so many changes and adjustments over the last two months. Not bad changes, mind you, and I've spent much fewer hours crying and whining and moping. Which made me realize, I think I was looking for love and acceptance among the blog world because that was the only place I was getting any "human" interaction besides that of Hubs. Working at the front desk of Daddy's local dental office where most people know me definitely has it's rewards there. <br />
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So, nothing personal to any of my blog readers and any of you who I loyally followed, I have found that I no longer need my blog to try to find some purpose in my life besides my job. Because that was formerly the only purpose I seemed to have. <br />
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In keeping with tradition of my blog, here's what I've been up to. With no pictures. Sorry. You'll get over it ;)<br />
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~Immigration day costume for my niece Emma including a crocheted hat. She was Adelaide Bryant who immigrated from England in the 1900s.<br />
~Elf costume for Emma which included a tulle puff slip, circle skirt and hat trimmed in faux fur and suspenders. By the way, it looked like about 20 white cats had been sleeping in the sewing room floor after cutting that faux fur.<br />
~Pillowcase dress for little cousin Emma (different one) with purple corduroy and lime green ruffle ribbon trim.<br />
~Fleece jingle bell ball for little cousin Brentley following Jenilyn's tutorial here --><a href="http://gritsandgiggles.blogspot.com/2011/07/baby-football-tutorial.html">Baby Football Tutorial </a> Except mine made more of a round ball. Not sure how that happened, but it was still cute and Brentley liked it before it was ever opened.<br />
~Khaki purse with grommets and leopard print ribbon. We gave it to Hubs's hair lady for Christmas. I really regret not getting a picture of this at all, but it needs some design adjustments. <br />
~A few wallet and bag orders for Christmas. Things got sticky for a while since most of my orders came in the same week that Hub's uncle and aunt were in town from Arkansas. But it got done!<br />
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Now I've got a few things that I want to make happen here in the next few weeks.<br />
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~I have a few friends having little ones soon. Gonna make some diaper bags and accessories for those.<br />
~Bought some fabric intended for diaper bags but dreamed up some cute bag combos in the process. Got it prewashed today too. Love All About Fabrics! <br />
~Gotta go to Hancock tomorrow and gets some fusible fleece, table cloth vinyl and some lining fabric. And something else that will be a surprise to debut soon!<br />
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Oh! And the newest thing that makes me quite happy! For Christmas I got some "custom" insoles for my shoes since I have warped up feet that used to hurt all the time. I put these insoles in some Alegria shoes, and this really is my new happy! My feet haven't hurt in a whole week! You have no idea how nice this is!<br />
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So...what's been new for you?Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-84166866683378421992011-11-10T13:20:00.000-05:002011-11-10T13:20:11.057-05:00Keep Chugging!So I have no internet access at home, and haven't for a week. It should be fixed tomorrow. And I'm still adjusting to my new schedule, although I can tell you that I like it much better than my previous arrangements. So since I'm on my lunch break and still need to drop the old paycheck in the bank, I'm just giving you a quickie of what I've been up to.<br />
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~My favorite--an Immigration Day project for Emma. She will be Adelaide Bryant who immigrated to the US from Liverpool, England in the 1900s. It is so cute! I'll post pictures when I have some.<br />
~A wallet order<br />
~A bag order<br />
~I made my Dollywood bag and it is now doubling as a lunch box since I lined it with ripstop nylon.<br />
~Mama told me she wants a bag like my pleated one too. So that's to be done.<br />
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That's all for now. Off to the bank!Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-7836508648301060362011-11-01T13:47:00.000-04:002011-11-01T13:47:07.091-04:00Bear with Me!Hi everyone! I didn't fall off a mountain this weekend. I promise. Though I did decide to take the lazy way out on our vacation and I didn't take a lot of pictures. I didn't even take the first ball of yarn. It was amazing.<br />
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ANYWAY...<br />
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The reason I'm asking you to bear with me is because I started my new job yesterday! 8:30AM to 6PM with a 2 hr lunch, Monday through Thursday. It's nice. Plus I'm working for a boss who I loved so much that I kissed when I left yesterday. My boss is my Daddy. But I won't have as much down time to blog and mindlessly surf the internet for craft ideas like I did at my other job. I'm OK with this. Very OK. <br />
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So just hang with me until I can get in a steady schedule and I promise I'll be back with goodies! Goodies for all!Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-90152400227301300232011-10-25T20:56:00.000-04:002011-10-25T20:56:59.455-04:00Selvage Earring TutorialEver wonder what you could do with all those selvages or thin tiny fabric scraps? Ever have an outfit that you could never find earrings to match? Fret no more! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6281784072_9909d43591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6281784072_9909d43591.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
I finally got the time to make my selvage earring tutorial! So here goes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6047/6281264771_2880e5bb53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6047/6281264771_2880e5bb53.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Materials Needed:<br />
~Low temp hot glue gun<br />
~Bendable wire (I used floral wire)<br />
~Ear wires<br />
~Crimp beads<br />
~Needle nosed pliers and wire cutters<br />
~<span style="background-color: white;">Scissors </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~About 18 inches of selvage or just 18 inches of 1/2 inch thick fabric</span><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6212/6281781296_72e0900b73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6212/6281781296_72e0900b73.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Depending on how big you want your earrings, cut your wire into two equal lengths. Mine were 5 inches.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/6281781700_33cf0ddde3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/6281781700_33cf0ddde3.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Place a small strip of glue at an angle at the end of the selvage. You want to use the smallest amount of glue possible so the ends will go into the crimp bead easily. Glue the wire down at an angle like so. Then just start wrapping the wire. You may need to glue it at points here and there if the wires are much longer than 5 inches.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/6281782052_ea7a203f2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/6281782052_ea7a203f2a.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>When you get to the end of your wire, glue down the selvage with a thin bit of hot glue. Make sure to glue it to the wire and not just other fabric. You don't want the wrapping to unspin. When it's glued down, cut the extra selvage off. This will be used to make the second earring. Excuse my camera strap at the bottom of the picture. It has nothing to do with the earrings.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6281782438_3352f713a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6281782438_3352f713a3.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Now bend your wrapped wire into the shape of a horseshoe. <br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/6281266657_b4836b8077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/6281266657_b4836b8077.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Pinch the ends of the wire together and apply a crimp bead to the top. I used a wider set of pliers for this than my needle nose, but needle nose should work just fine. Then trim off the scraggly ends at the top of the bead. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6055/6281783660_c12ae410a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6055/6281783660_c12ae410a5.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Now use your needle nose pliers to open the bottom loop on the earwire enough to thread the crimp bead onto it. Make sure the pretty side faces front and thread the crimp bead onto the earwire. Close the earwire back with the needle noses. If you were a little violent with your project (like me), you may need to reshape your fabric/wire loop at this point.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6281784072_9909d43591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6281784072_9909d43591.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>And there you have it! Now just do the same thing for the other earring using the rest of the selvage scrap.<br />
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If you make some of these I'd love to see a picture! Upload one to my Flickr group here --><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/evanbeckyfanpics/"> Evan Becky's Fan Pics on Flickr</a><br />
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<div align="left"></div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-74265711143949859252011-10-21T22:14:00.000-04:002011-10-21T22:14:00.017-04:00To-Do List 10-21-11This post is more for my sanity than anything else. But on the other hand, I'm thinking about doing a giveaway soon! Who's with me?<br />
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<strike>~Alter the peasant dress (which may entail more work than I thought) </strike>It's done! (hehehe!) And I didn't have to tear it apart!<br />
~Belt and bag to match peasant dress (I have some nice microsuede polyester for this!)<-- This is not done because I realized that my poly suede doesn't match. I think I'll just buy a belt. And save the poly suede for a different bag.<br />
~Make the "fur" lined coat--This has been put on the back burner. It's not all that important that I get it done. I have all winter to wear it.<br />
~Dollywood bag--I think I'm going through with it. It shouldn't (shouldn't being the keyword) take long<br />
~A-line skirt with black, white and pink plaid material<br />
~Make a tutorial for the selvage earrings.<--Got the pictures made! They are super cute! <br />
<strike>~Remake a train engineer hat for an order. I knew in the back of my mind that this might happen though. I made the hat a little too small.<br />
~Redesign my jewelry case idea. </strike>I like the new design much better<br />
<strike>~Made the executive decision that I'm going to All About Fabrics again tomorrow for some molded plastic zippers and rip-stop nylon--These are for new travel kits </strike>Turns out I didn't need molded plastic zippers. Oh well, they were cheap<br />
~I'd really like to make a "catalog" of stuff that I make.<br />
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Now for the new stuff:<br />
~Try printing on ribbons and fabric using some tutorials I found online<br />
~Make my Pretties with the wine satin and white lace. Got that idea here --> <a href="http://etcetorize.blogspot.com/2011/10/show-and-tell-handmade-undies.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Etcetorize+%28Etcetorize%29">Etcetorize</a><br />
~Make the Sweater Bangles like I found here --> <a href="http://averysweetnovember.blogspot.com/2011/10/sweater-and-twine-bangle-bacelet.html">A Very Sweet November</a><br />
~Make a Ruffle scarf like Merediths here --> <a href="http://hautetosew.blogspot.com/2011/10/ruffle-scarf-2.html">Haute to Sew</a><br />
~More Travel Kits and Gift Card Holders<br />
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And for the Must be Done Monday List:<br />
~Get up early (hmm, this doesn't sound right, get up early on my day off...)<br />
~Finish off my pedicure gift card from my Mother-in-law :)<br />
~Find some bangles to make above said bangles<br />
~Find some brown leg warmers, maybe...<br />
~Find a dress belt if not done before Monday<br />
~The Pretties<br />
~Sweater Bangles<br />
~Dollywood Bag<br />
~Then if I have time, the pre-cut Travel Kits and Gift Card Holders<br />
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I should probably get up at about 6 AM. That oughta do it.Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-80241129985546801592011-10-20T17:13:00.000-04:002011-10-20T17:13:22.550-04:00Awkward and Awesome 10-20-11<div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a border="0" href="http://tandsdaybook.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/sydneypoulton/5329412150_b0ac2a3e1a_m.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm just gonna bust right on in with it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Awkward</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">~All the craziness that seems to be going on everywhere! I think that since it was cloudy all last week to cover up the full moon, everybody realized this week that they missed it, so they are extra crazy. Going shopping today started to get on my nerves because people were being rude and had no regard for someone in scrubs who might have to go into work soon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Spending most of the past two days with urine all over my hands from working on the urinalysis counter. Not the job I had in mind when I went to college.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Almost ending up in a whipped cream fight on my back porch with a bunch of middle school girls. See <a href="http://%3c/div%3E">this post</a> for a few pics. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Having to save my brother's girlfriend by tickling one of the above middle schoolers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~This wasn't awkward for me, but for Hubs. Sam and Megan (my brother and his girlfriend) almost seeing Hubs in only his tidy whities on Sunday afternoon before the kids got to our house.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Having to wash my dress jeans after only a few hours wear because Ike Beast slurped me up the side of the leg. Dog slobber isn't exactly a fashion statement I'd like to make.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Hoping to goodness that Ike Beast didn't get too "excited" (if you know what I mean...) for our Christmas card picture.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I just realized that all but the first two awkwards happened on Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Awesome</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">~Getting the Christmas card picture made with Ike looking at the camera and without him being too excited. This was a Christmas miracle in and of itself. I'll post the card when it gets closer to Christmas. We just wanted to make sure we had enough time to print the pics.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Scoring some great deals at Old Navy for Hubs. I just hope he likes what I picked out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~I bought some wine colored satin, white lace and tiny elastic at Hobby Lobby today. Hubs and I are going on a romanic trip to the mountains next weekend. Can you guess what's going to be made from the satin and lace? ;)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~I found out what to do with the left over sweater from my pumpkins. Look here --><a href="http://averysweetnovember.blogspot.com/2011/10/sweater-and-twine-bangle-bacelet.html">A Very Sweet November</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~I figured out how to alter my peasant dress without tearing it apart and starting over. Sure, it would probably fit better if I started over, but I don't have time for that. You really don't know how excited this really makes me. I'm gonna try to do this before Sunday so I can have WIWW pics of it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Finding these little babies on sale for $15 at Old Navy today</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www1.assets-gap.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/857/857834/quick/on857834-00qlv01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://www1.assets-gap.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/857/857834/quick/on857834-00qlv01.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I almost passed them by, but I couldn't help it. I had been wanting some leopard print flats. And my recent check of the website says that they are $20 from there and they don't have my size. Score! Now, for the first time in my life, I kind of want some brown leg warmers to wear with my jeggings and these shoes...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~The new Casting Crowns CD came out this week. I pre-bought mine for practically $5 and picked it up today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~Only 6.5 more days before I'm no longer an employee at the hospital! Ok, so I really do like my job and most of the people I work with, I just hate the hours. Plus, it doesn't matter how good the boss is elsewhere, they don't hold a candle to my Daddy being my boss. I'm also soooo looking forward to being able to cook dinner for Hubs every night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think that's all I'll leave you with today. There really have been so many awesome things happend this week. I think doing Awkward and Awesome is just God's way of telling me that the good really does rule over the bad and that He will always look out for me. </div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-83968190605904453912011-10-18T17:23:00.000-04:002011-10-18T17:23:24.247-04:00Eventful WeekendSo much happened this weekend, yet, I feel like I didn't get much done. And truthfully, I didn't get much done off my to-list, but a lot of stuff that needed to get done, got done.<br />
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First of all, I got my sweater punkins made:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6258720740_64ac19a299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" oda="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6258720740_64ac19a299.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>I first saw these from <a href="http://myhappilyeveraftertheend.blogspot.com/2011/10/friday-fabulousness-holiday-crafting.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MyHappilyEverAfter+%28My+Happily+Ever+After%29">Rachel at My Happily Ever After,</a> who found the tutorial over at <a href="http://myhappilyeveraftertheend.blogspot.com/2011/10/friday-fabulousness-holiday-crafting.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MyHappilyEverAfter+%28My+Happily+Ever+After%29">Small Fry and Co.</a> They do such a good job with it, I'm not gonna go into the gory details of it, but whether you are a seamstress or not, these were so easy to make. I tried to find sweaters at the Goodwill that I didn't think anyone would wear, but I still had a hard time hacking up a perfectly good sweater. But they made great centerpieces for my dining room table. And I still have lots of sweater left of the gold and white ones because I only used the sleeves for those!<br />
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And we did a big cleaning of the house. Hubs was especially excited about that. He's a clean freak. I am not. But I'm trying my best to keep it clean so we won't have so much work to do at Christmas. That's really what took up most of my time on Saturday. Between that and the preschool Fall Festival at church. We aren't preschool workers, but our youth were helping to run booths, so we were also helping. I also put on about 12 quarts of vegetable soup for my Mother-in-law's birthday party on Sunday.<br />
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So skip ahead to Sunday, after church we finished throwing together the birthday party. This included making 2 dozen cornbread muffins and decorating a giant pumpkin pie with whipped cream. The whipped cream melted and made a mess of the pie, but luckily it was store bought and I didn't feel like I had too much invested in it. Everybody said it tasted good. But we had a lot of fun and a lot of food!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6161/6258721182_7a05b14362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" oda="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6161/6258721182_7a05b14362.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center">Hubs's mom (and dad) blowing out candles. That's her mother on the other side. Can you believe that Hubs's grandmother will be 90 next month?! (Don't tell her I told...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/6258195769_84ed73be7b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" oda="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/6258195769_84ed73be7b.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center">Me and Emma, my middle niece. She is a girl after my own heart. She wanted to know what projects I was working on and was thrilled about my sewing room. She's also the one who always makes sure I can come to her birthday parties.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Then on Sunday night we had our crazy bunch of Middle Schoolers over for Small Groups. We decided that the snack for that night was going to be pancakes. Hubs made about 50 pancakes and they were all gone by the end of the night. Along with some ice cream, about half of the left over pumpkin pie and a few bags of chips. They will eat you out of house and home! And did I mention, that we had chocolate and strawberry syrups and whipped cream for the pancakes? They took over that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6167/6258722464_8c57cf64ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" oda="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6167/6258722464_8c57cf64ef.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's our pastor's daughter with her mouth open.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6235/6258197219_a5f91314eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" oda="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6235/6258197219_a5f91314eb.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And her mom and dad lead High School Small Groups</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">They're crazy, but I love them! </div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-14905963847870495422011-10-15T02:13:00.000-04:002011-10-15T02:13:58.701-04:00New Facebook Button!Hey everybody! I created a new button for my blog tonight. If you don't notice it to the right, it looks kind of like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/6245237363_860512d357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" oda="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/6245237363_860512d357.jpg" width="188px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left">Just click the one on the right and it will take you to my Facebook fan page. I promise I'm not one of those people who sends crazy updates out the wazoo and I'm planning on a special offer here in the next few days. Go check it out please!</div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-82676701649165484652011-10-13T15:40:00.001-04:002011-10-13T15:40:37.882-04:00Awkward and Awesome 10-13-11<div style="text-align: center;">I'm back doing Awkward and Awesome! I racked up a few awkwards for the week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a border="0" href="http://tandsdaybook.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/sydneypoulton/5329412150_b0ac2a3e1a_m.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Awkward</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">~This was actually from last week and I forgot about it. Stuffed peppers take longer than 30 min to cook. Poor Hubs was eating them cruchy before he had to go to his fire meeting. He did nuke one in the microwave and it got a little better. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Losing an epic battle to some white velvet. While wearing dark clothing. It looks kind of like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6167/6236391521_c154f05b42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" oda="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6167/6236391521_c154f05b42.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>A word to novice seamstreses like myself. Velvet is sooo not worth the trouble. It puckers and buckles when you try to sew it. And it leaves its dust everywhere. That pile of velvet is still sitting in the floor mocking me everytime I go in my sewing room. If you want it, it's free to a good home. As long as it doesn't eat the mailman on the way there.<br />
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~Still having velvet dust on your pants after washing them, but being late-ish for work and having to wear them anyway.<br />
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~Having a to-do list that never gets shorter, it only grows.<br />
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~Eating half a box of Better Cheddars for lunch yesterday.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Awesome</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">~Hubs saying that the stuffed peppers were amazing once they were cooked all the way through.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Seeking revenge on the velvet by buying some really nice white flannel</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Realizing that the lady at the fabric shop didn't charge me full price for said flannel</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Getting some of my zippers sorted out so I know what Travel Kits I can make with which fabrics</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Washing my prized sweaters from Goodwill to make my sweater punkins</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~My mother-in-law's birthday party on Sunday (her birthday's saturday, but we can't get the family together until Sunday). We're having vegetable soup and corn bread for sure. And some other stuff.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~The birthday card I made for a coworker's niece:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6236916774_361f788494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" oda="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6236916774_361f788494.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I think I'm gonna start writing my Awkwards down as they happen. I keep remembering things from weeks past. Maybe I shouldn't though. It makes me realize all the awesome stuff that happens to me every week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-16730976265754803962011-10-11T18:23:00.000-04:002011-10-11T18:23:48.841-04:00What I've Been Doing LatelyThis won't be another to-do post. That's for later this week. I really haven't done much to knock stuff off my to-do list. I keep adding stuff, but not striking others off. However I do feel like I've gotten a good bit accomplished. I feel like I'm on a good path forward, though my to-do list doesn't look like it. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, instead of worrying about my shop and sewing and such while I'm at work, I've been reading. I love reading. And I want to tell you about what I've been reading.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For Christmas last year, Hubs gave me a book that was the first in a series that I had had my eye on. It was The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://g.christianbook.com/g/product/2/205149.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="http://g.christianbook.com/g/product/2/205149.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And on a recent trip to Lifeway, I looked at the Bargain Books and found the next two books in the series for only about $6 each!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDat_QEESFVQCbIFGiBKK5yeYIGj4DzcXLhDlGV96-_MpitlMXI11NkEjNTxU5alY9BLkcps9pGEOA4zQVKGdP2OamEDl0MVkji4Odfkfu3xLiGeuNx2khGW1RrCZLQAAMdOfdag1aNs/s400/The+hidden+flame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDat_QEESFVQCbIFGiBKK5yeYIGj4DzcXLhDlGV96-_MpitlMXI11NkEjNTxU5alY9BLkcps9pGEOA4zQVKGdP2OamEDl0MVkji4Odfkfu3xLiGeuNx2khGW1RrCZLQAAMdOfdag1aNs/s200/The+hidden+flame.jpg" width="130px" /></a><a href="http://www.janetteoke.com/Console/Common/Image.asp?image=/Media/PubComProductCatalog/9780764208669.jpg&width=223&height=0&quality=90" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" kca="true" src="http://www.janetteoke.com/Console/Common/Image.asp?image=/Media/PubComProductCatalog/9780764208669.jpg&width=223&height=0&quality=90" width="130px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">I've gotten a little over halfway through The Hidden Flame, and it keeps me wanting to read more. So far I've really enjoyed these books. They do take a few liberties with characters in the Bible. A few background stories are made up (the Centurion in the first book is the Centurion who asks Jesus to heal his servant, Ananias and Saphira are in the second and Saphira's brother is a major character), so if you are someone who would consider this blasphemey, you may not want to read these books. Although some stories are written for Biblical characters, there is nothing that goes against the Bible. There is actually a good bit of scripture throughout and the characters who are in the Bible are all well represented when it comes to what we know of their personalities from the Bible (Martha is always busy working, Herod was a character you loved to hate). And then because they are written for us ladies, there is of course a bit of a love story woven through them, but you don't have to worry about a really smart young'un finding the book and reading any...ahem...love scenes. I think anyone, whether they have extensive Biblical knowledge or not, would at least enjoy the books. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">What I love most about these books, though, is getting a glimpse of Christianity at its youngest. They take place right after Jesus has ascended to heaven. Growing up in the Bible Belt, I've never really felt a sense of persecution or even doubt that what I believe is really true. Even if they don't believe it, a majority of the people around here have been inside a Christian church, or at least know the story of Jesus and don't really care one way or another if I believe. I never really thought about what it would be like to talk to someone who actually knew Jesus, but set him aside as just another crazy man who said he was the Messiah but is now dead. I've also never really thought about the leap of faith that it takes to for someone whose background says they should believe something else, to trust Jesus. I grew up in a Christian home, I know nothing else. But for a Roman soldier, or a Pharisee to change his mind would be a totally different story.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">So there's what I've been doing lately. I encourage you, whether you are a Christian or not, to just go and check these books out. If nothing else, you've come away with a good read. </div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4892374288999297794.post-572356479112051632011-10-06T20:07:00.000-04:002011-10-06T20:07:32.090-04:00No Awkward, Just Awesome!I was going to link up to Awkward and Awesome again, but I realized there wasn't anything awkward (at least not that I can remember) that happened to me this week. I got a lot of stuff done this week. I think this post is going to turn into a done and to-do post with a few bits of awesomeness at the end. Here's my list from last week with what I got done crossed off:<br />
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<strike>~3 black wallets for my Mother-in-Law<br />
~Blue, green and brown wallet for my coworker<br />
~5 Year Old sized Clemson Grayson Leigh hat for a custom order</strike>~Alter the peasant dress (which may entail more work than I thought)<br />
~Belt and bag to match peasant dress (I have some nice microsuede polyester for this!)<br />
~While I'm talking about the dress, <strike>make a scarf from the scraps (Imagining that it will be really cute with a white long sleeve tee and denim skirt)</strike> (See my <a href="http://evanbecky.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-suppose-its-actually-still-wednesday.html">WIWW post for this week</a> for that idea) and earrings from the selvage<br />
~Make the "fur" lined coat--This has been put on the back burner. It's not all that important that I get it done. I have all winter to wear it.<br />
~Make up bags<br />
<strike>~Curling iron holders</strike> Got one prototype done, it's functional, but I've got some tweaking to do.<br />
<strike>~Gift card holders/wallets</strike> These are cute! Got to make lots more for the Christmas season though<br />
~<strike>Make a scarf out of an old grimey t-shirt as inspired by </strike><a href="http://craftycpa.blogspot.com/2011/09/big-idea-recycling-t-shirts.html"><span style="color: #ab58c1;"><strike>The Crafty CPA's T-Shirt Recyling Ideas</strike></span></a><strike> (this link leads to her blog post which links to a tutorial)--I'll probably do this tonight while watching </strike><a href="http://www.aetv.com/storage-wars/"><span style="color: #ab58c1;"><strike>Storage Wars</strike></span></a><strike> with Hubs</strike> <a href="http://evanbecky.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-suppose-its-actually-still-wednesday.html">Also in my WIWW post for this week</a><br />
~Dollywood bag?<br />
~A-line skirt with black, white and pink plaid material<br />
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So I have all that to do, plus a few other things:<br />
~Make a tutorial for the selvage earrings. The more I sew, the more selvages I acquire, and I think that these earrings will be a cute addition to any seamstress's accessory wardrobe<br />
~Remake a train engineer hat for an order. I knew in the back of my mind that this might happen though. I made the hat a little too small.<br />
~Redesign my jewelry case idea. <br />
~Made the executive decision that I'm going to All About Fabrics again tomorrow for some molded plastic zippers and rip-stop nylon--These are for new travel kits<br />
~I'd really like to make a "catalog" of stuff that I make. This comes after a friend who owns a salon said she might want to carry some of my stuff. I'd like to have a brochure at least of the things that are in my shop and some color options. It would be easier than saying, "go to my shop at whatever address" or "here's my business card." I think this might get me more business than a card.<br />
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Ooh, I had almost forgot! I had considered doing a party like Scentsy and 31 parties for my stuff. This might take more work than I can handle before the Christmas season, but it's still a dream. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">And the bit of awesomeness that excited me the most this afternoon? Old Navy has released this season's Performance Fleece! I want these, especially the Houndstooth one, and they're only $8 this weekend!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.assets-gap.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/885/885226/quick/on885226-00qlv01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="http://www2.assets-gap.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/885/885226/quick/on885226-00qlv01.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www1.assets-gap.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/885/885226/quick/on885226-03qlv01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="http://www1.assets-gap.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/885/885226/quick/on885226-03qlv01.jpg" /></a></div>Evan Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17277609020707086115noreply@blogger.com0